Full Breakdown
IAI Unveils New Counter-Drone Radar and Kinetic Interception Systems at AUSA
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Introduction of HawkGuard and POINT@AIR
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced two new counter-unmanned-air-system (C-UAS) solutions at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) annual exhibition in Washington. HawkGuard adds a kinetic layer to IAI’s portfolio by employing interceptor drones that collide with hostile aerial targets, eliminating the need for explosive warheads. At the same event, IAI unveiled POINT@AIR, a compact aerostat-mounted radar that lifts an active electronically scanned array (Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)) sensor above terrain to detect, track and classify low-altitude drones, aircraft, maritime and ground targets.
Background & Context: Growing Drone Threats and IAI’s Integrated Approach
Recent conflicts have highlighted the vulnerability of conventional forces to swarms of small, low-flying drones. IAI’s strategy combines detection, identification, command-and-control, electronic warfare and kinetic interception into a layered architecture. POINT@AIR is intended to supplement, not replace, existing long-range radars such as the MMR family, providing persistent surveillance where fixed installations are impractical. HawkGuard offers an alternative to electronic-warfare jamming by physically destroying threats, addressing concerns about blast effects and secondary damage from conventional missile interceptors.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr. Bar, CEO of ELTA Systems and executive vice president at IAI, emphasized that modern aerial threats require adaptable solutions that can be matched to mission requirements. Guy Bar Lev, IAI’s president and chief executive, framed persistent surveillance as the foundation of effective defense, noting that an elevated radar platform expands situational awareness and gives forces more time to respond.
Data & Capabilities
- HawkGuard: integrates radar and electro-optical sensors with AI-enabled command-and-control; interceptor drones achieve neutralization through direct impact. IAI reports successful tests of detection, tracking and neutralization, though specific target types, interception range and performance metrics remain undisclosed.
- POINT@AIR: built around the ELM-2083 radar family, employing electronic beam steering and mechanical rotation for 360° coverage. IAI claims the system can sustain up to 30 days of continuous airborne surveillance and operate without permanent infrastructure, enabling rapid relocation to meet evolving mission needs.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
IAI has not released quantitative data on HawkGuard’s interception range, cost, or customer uptake, leaving analysts unable to compare its effectiveness with existing kinetic or electronic-warfare solutions. Similarly, POINT@AIR’s operating altitude, exact detection range, deployment time and pricing have not been disclosed, creating uncertainty about its suitability for specific theater requirements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today’s aerial threat environment demands solutions that can adapt quickly to the threat, the mission and the operational setting,” — Dror Bar, CEO of ELTA Systems and executive vice president at IAI
- “Seeing the battlespace is the starting point for every effective defense,” — Guy Bar Lev, IAI's president and chief executive
- “Seeing the battlespace is the starting point for every effective defense. The more persistent and comprehensive that view becomes, the better equipped forces are to understand what is unfolding, anticipate threats and act with confidence,” — Bar Lev, IAI's president and chief executive
- “IAI is increasingly developing the next-generation capabilities that expand the boundaries of situational awareness and provide our customers with greater visibility, flexibility and time to respond.” — Dror Bar, CEO of ELTA Systems and executive vice president at IAI