POINT@AIR: Tethered balloon radar could offer troops 30 days of nonstop surveillance

An Israeli aerospace and defense corporation will unveil a new balloon-borne radar system at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting (AUSA 2026) in Washington.

POINT@AIR, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), uses a tethered, helium-filled balloon to carry an active electronically scanned array radar above the ground.

The company said the mobile system can detect and track multiple aerial, maritime, and ground targets while transmitting information to command-and-control systems.

Based on IAI’s ELM-2083 radar family, POINT@AIR is designed to provide ground forces with elevated surveillance capabilities against low-flying drones, aircraft, and other potential threats without requiring permanent infrastructure.

Aerostat radar system

POINT@AIR combines an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with a tethered, helium-filled balloon to monitor aerial, maritime, and ground targets.

According to IAI, by carrying the sensor above ground level, the system is designed to overcome some of the visibility limitations caused by hills, buildings, and the Earth’s curvature, which can obstruct ground-based radar coverage.

The elevated platform could help military forces identify low-flying aircraft and drones earlier than sensors positioned closer to the ground. Its mobile design also allows it to be relocated as surveillance requirements change, without depending on permanent installations.

“The system can be integrated with Command & Control and fire-control systems, enabling rapid threat identification, tracking and engagement – supporting the neutralization of threats before they cross the defended area or reach critical assets,” according to the IAI website.

IAI has not disclosed the balloon’s operating altitude, radar detection range, flight endurance, or deployment time. These details will be important in determining the system’s operational capabilities.

Elevated threat detection

Based on IAI’s ELM-2083 radar family, POINT@AIR uses electronic beam steering in azimuth and elevation, combined with mechanical rotation to provide 360-degree coverage. This configuration enables the radar to scan different directions and track multiple targets.

The system can prioritize detected targets and transmit radar data to command-and-control networks. This allows operators to incorporate information from the elevated sensor into a wider operational picture, supporting surveillance across multiple domains. The system is also designed for land and maritime operations, offering up to 30 days of continuous airborne surveillance and early warning beyond the line-of-sight limitations of ground-based systems.

IAI describes POINT@AIR as a more compact and mobile approach to aerostat-mounted radar surveillance than larger systems in the ELM-2083 family. Its practical performance will depend on factors including radar specifications, weather conditions, communications links, and deployment requirements.

The U.S. military has previously used aerostat-based surveillance to monitor installations in Iraq and Afghanistan, with tethered balloons carrying cameras. The U.S. Army also developed the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS). This larger aerostat-based program was canceled after one of its balloons broke free from its mooring in Maryland in 2015.

IAI has not announced a customer or price for POINT@AIR. Its planned unveiling at AUSA 2026 is expected to provide an opportunity for further details about the system’s capabilities.