Israel’s IAI unveils 3 new air defense systems at AUSA

JERUSALEM — Israel Aerospace Industries has unveiled a trio of new systems at the annual AUSA conference that reflect efforts to adapt existing technologies to emerging battlefield threats.

The new capabilities include a mobile aerostat-based radar as well as a counter-drone interceptor that doesn’t use an explosive warhead. The third system — called Fire Storm 250 and developed with Sig Sauer — is a drone equipped with an M250 machine gun.

Dror Bar, executive vice president at IAI and CEO of the company’s Elta Systems, told Breaking Defense that the new aerostat-radar system, called Point@Air, addresses a shift in how the platforms are being used. Aerostats, which are essentially large balloons or dirigibles, have long been used for surveillance but have become vulnerable to drone attacks due to their static infrastructure, Bar said.

Point@Air combines an aerostat with a phased-array radar that Bar said can detect a wide range of targets, from fighter aircraft and large drones to cruise missiles and maritime targets. At around 70 meters (230 feet) long, the system is designed to operate without fixed infrastructure and can be redeployed to a new location within hours, he said. 

The capability addresses a vulnerability Israel recently experienced when Hezbollah targeted a large aerostat in northern Israel, Bar explained. By allowing operators to move the aerostat, IAI aims to make it harder for adversaries to pinpoint its position and target it with one-way attack drones. 

“When sunset arrives, you just fold it and move to the next hill or two, and when morning comes, your enemy sees that you are not there anymore,” Bar said.

He noted that the system could have applications in homeland security missions, as well as for US Central Command and other military commands.

While its core technology is fully developed, Point@Air remains in the demonstration phase as IAI works with US-based TCOM to adjust the platform’s size and configuration, Bar said. TCOM is the prime contractor for the US Army’s aerostat platforms.

IAI also brought its HawkGuard platform to AUSA as another solution geared toward the rapidly evolving counter-drone sector — which Bar called the “holy grail” for defense companies.

“Everybody is searching for an ultra low-cost effector against drones across the world,” he said.

HawkGuard uses an inert interceptor equipped with a large net rather than an explosive warhead. Radar and optical sensors help guide the interceptor towards its target, forming what Bar described as a closed-loop system.

“This closed-loop system allows you to intercept all kinds of drones in a very cost-effective way without affecting the environment,” he said.

The absence of explosives can make HawkGuard suitable for use in populated environments or near sensitive installations, such as sites containing fuel or other explosive materials. The system “has been widely tested” against a range of threats and is already “deployed with several customers,” Bar said.

Bar said HawkGuard can intercept a range of drones, including those that don’t use communications links. The system combines radar and electro-optical sensors with command-and-control technology to detect, track and guide interceptor drones toward their targets. It’s a relatively short-range system, he said, though IAI has not publicly disclosed its precise range.

Bar noted that the company sees HawkGuard as an additional layer of defense rather than a standalone solution.

“As we have understood, starting from Ukraine, there is no single silver bullet to kill these drones,” he said. “HawkGuard gives our customers the ability to use a very cost-effective, kinetic, inert effector.” He sees good potential for the system in North America, including to protect US military bases against emerging drone threats.

Sticking with the theme of new systems that combine elements of existing technology, IAI and Sig Sauer also announced the completion of a firing test for Fire Storm 250 — an unspecified tactical UAV equipped with Sig Sauer’s Microlight Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) and an M250 machine gun. During the test, the drone hovered over a simulated battlefield and fired on targets.

“Firing was conducted from varying distances and altitudes, demonstrating the system’s operational flexibility, integrated safety and accuracy under different conditions,” the companies said in a statement.

The companies declined to disclose which UAV is used for the Fire Storm 250, but images of the system show a drone similar to IAI’s APUS 60. The companies also did not specify how many rounds of ammunition the system can carry.

The company statement noted the drone is a “multi-fuel internal-combustion engine” that can be refueled in the field using commonly available fuel, avoiding lengthy battery-charging cycles or specialized infrastructure.

The companies said the test “demonstrated the system’s ability to combine airborne surveillance, target identification and precision firepower in a realistic battlefield scenario.”

Moshe Levy, executive vice president of IAI and general manager of its Military Aircraft Group, said in the statement that the test demonstrated the potential to integrate weapons with uncrewed aircraft in operational settings. He added that “the next generation of unmanned systems will be defined not only by autonomy, but by how effectively they integrate sensing, decision-making and action within the operational environment.”

Sali Okanin, Sig Sauer’s Israel general manager, added: “We’re proud of the new SIG SAUER M250, which is combat-proven technology. It is a belt-fed platform with greater range than legacy systems and weight savings that not only provide squad-level benefits but also make drone capabilities possible,” Okanin said.