Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems division has received a $57 million contract from an undisclosed foreign customer to supply aerostat-housed EL/M-2083 long-range airborne early warning radars.
Surface-based radars have limited line of sight to detect low-flying threats, such as manned and unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles, and the tethered aerostat-carried systems are used to "fill the gap".
In recent years, Elta has supplied its balloon-carried radar systems to several countries, including India.
Once deployed at an altitude of up to 13,000ft (3,960m), the EL/M-2083 is capable of providing 3D coverage over a radius of 500-600km (270-325nm).
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Elta's EL/M-2083 is derived from the company's L-band EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" ground-based fire-control radar, which forms part of Israel's Arrow ballistic missile defence system.
Source: Flight International
