High availability Aerostat System

The High availability Aerostat System (HAAS) is a massive inflatable missile detection system. It was designed by Israel. The system is used to detect long range threats. It hovers in high altitudes.

About High Availability Aerostat System

• It is a giant blimp and is one of the largest aerostat systems in the world. The aerostat systems are those systems that provide surveillance 24/7.
• The system has been named as “Sky Dew”.
• The High Availability Aerostat System was developed by Israel Aerospace industries along with a US Aerostat manufacturer and TCOM.
• The High Availability Aerostat System is a large fabric envelope. It issues early warnings about cruise missiles. The cruise missiles are low flying missiles that are guided to their targets through an on-board computer.
• The HAAS is an additional missile detection system to the existing air detection arrays deployed around Israel.
• The Unmanned aerial vehicles find it difficult to counter a threat due to their lower flight altitude. This is overcome by HAAS.
• The implementation costs of HAAS is less than that of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
• The HAAS is to be placed in the northern regions of the country.

Technical details of HAAS

The hull of HAAS is made of two parts. The upper part is filled with helium. This provides the lifting capability to the aerostat. The lower part is a pressurised air compartment. It carries sensors and radars to detect missiles.

Israel one of few countries to launch HAAS

Very few countries in the world have launched advanced Aerostat systems in the world. For instance, China has deployed aerostat systems over some of its artificially made islands in the South China sea. The US uses tethered Aerostat Systems at an altitude of 4,600 metres along its borders. India launched its first aerostat in 2010. As of 2016, India had two aerostat radars. They were bought from Israel for Rs 300 crores. In India, the Akashdeep Medium class aerostat is under development. The payload of the aerostat is 200 kg. The surveillance height is one kilometre. It is being developed by DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation).

Background

Lately, that is in 2020s, Israel has started creating weapons more aggressively. This is done to counter the threats from Hezbollah movement in Lebanon and also to counter the potential threats from Iran.