Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta subsidiary has revealed it is developing a 1,700kg (3,750lb) airborne early-warning (AEW) radar array that will be mounted inside a 74m (240ft) aerostat for long-duration surveillance tasks. Using the same transmit/receive module technology as the Israeli-developed Phalcon and Green Pine active-array radars, the tethered system will operate at altitudes of around 3,000-4,000ft (910-1,220m), looking for low-flying threats such as unmanned air vehicles or, potentially, cruise missiles.
Dubbed Airstar, the radar-equipped aerostat will have an endurance of "weeks at a time", according to Elta, with surveillance information gathered from the system relayed to the ground via a secure datalink.
The radar array is currently in testing at Elta's Ashdod manufacturing facility.
The Israeli air force declines to confirm that it is to take delivery of the developmental Airstar system, but the service is already undertaking several other projects to increase its AEWcapabilities. These include the ongoing acquisition of several radar-equipped Gulfstream G550 business jets which are to replace some of its current Boeing 707-based Phalcon surveillance aircraft.
* In a separate development, Israel's Elbit Systems last week announced the receipt of a $300 million contract from the Israeli defence ministry to supply airborne systems and command and control equipment in support of its national homeland security requirements.
CRAIG HOYLE / TEL AVIV
Source: Flight International
