Sky Dew Explained

Sky Dew (Tal Shamayim in Hebrew (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]

See also

• JLENS - Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (Spy Balloon)
• Tethered Aerostat Radar System

Notes and References

1. Web site: אתמול (ג') התקיים טקס מסירת מערכת ההתרעה האווירית "טל שמיים" ממנהלת "חומה" במפא״ת שבמשרד הביטחון לחיל-האוויר . iaf.org.il . Israeli Air Force . 6 November 2023 . 27 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327033353/https://www.iaf.org.il/9209-55203-he/IAF.aspx . live .
2. Web site: Agency . Aryeh Savir, Tazpit News . Israel Deploys ‘Sky Dew’ Defense System Up North . 4 November 2023 . 3 November 2021 . 4 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104153712/https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/idf/israel-deploys-sky-dew-defense-system-up-north/2021/11/03/ . live .
3. Web site: Giant missile-detecting balloon begins operational use over northern Israel The Times of Israel . www.timesofisrael.com . 4 November 2023 . 20 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020135507/https://www.timesofisrael.com/giant-missile-detecting-balloon-begins-operational-use-over-northern-israel/amp/ . live .
4. Web site: Editorial . Defense Brief . Israel deploys Tal Shamaim missile defense aerostat . Defense Brief . 4 November 2023 . 23 March 2022 . 4 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104153712/https://defbrief.com/2022/03/23/israel-deploys-tal-shamaim-missile-defense-aerostat/ . live .
5. Web site: Israeli Air Force Receives Its Tal Shamaim High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS) . MilitaryLeak . 4 November 2023 . 23 March 2022 . 4 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104153710/https://militaryleak.com/2022/03/23/israeli-air-force-receives-its-tal-shamaim-high-availability-aerostat-system-haas/ . live .
6. Web site: Sky Dew aerial threat warning system given to Air Force . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . 4 November 2023 . 23 March 2022 . 3 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103081225/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-702094 . live .
7. Web site: Harding . Thomas . Homsi . Nada . 2024-05-17 . Hezbollah 'blinds' Israeli defences with drone strike on Sky Dew airship . 2024-05-19 . The National . en.