Sky Dew

Sky Dew blimp
The Aerostat after being hit by Hezbollah

Sky Dew (Tal Shamayim in Hebrew (טל שמיים)), or High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS), is a high altitude missile defense aerostat used by Israel Defence Forces since 2022. The radar system was developed by Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). It is a tethered blimp, developed by the US TCOM company.[1][2][3][4][5] The system is deployed in the north of Israel, a similar balloon is already used in the south.[6] On May 15, 2024, the Aerostat was downed by a Hezbollah aircraft.[7]

  1. ^ "אתמול (ג') התקיים טקס מסירת מערכת ההתרעה האווירית "טל שמיים" ממנהלת "חומה" במפא״ת שבמשרד הביטחון לחיל-האוויר". iaf.org.il. Israeli Air Force. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. ^ Agency, Aryeh Savir, Tazpit News (3 November 2021). "Israel Deploys 'Sky Dew' Defense System Up North". Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Giant missile-detecting balloon begins operational use over northern Israel | The Times of Israel". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  4. ^ Editorial, Defense Brief (23 March 2022). "Israel deploys Tal Shamaim missile defense aerostat". Defense Brief. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Israeli Air Force Receives Its Tal Shamaim High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS)". MilitaryLeak. 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Sky Dew aerial threat warning system given to Air Force". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  7. ^ Harding, Thomas; Homsi, Nada (2024-05-17). "Hezbollah 'blinds' Israeli defences with drone strike on Sky Dew airship". The National. Retrieved 2024-05-19.