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IAI Unveils HawkGuard Drone Defense With Interceptor Drones

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 2:19 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

IAI Unveils HawkGuard

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled HawkGuard, an active protection system, at the AUSA expo in Washington.
HawkGuard fuses radar and electro-optical sensors with AI-enabled command and control to detect threats.
It launches interceptor drones that strike hostile targets by direct impact, eliminating explosives.
Kinetic interception reduces blast and collateral damage, suitable for dense civilian environments.
Tests confirmed detection, tracking and neutralization of varied drone threats, including coordinated attacks.

Summary

Point@Air Tracks 150km

Point@Air’s aerostat can track moving objects up to 150 km (90 mi) away.
The 30-meter-long aerostat carries Elta Systems’ L-band EL/M-2083 AESA radar.
Elta CEO Dror Bar says the system can be packed and redeployed within one hour.
Gallium-nitride cooling lets the radar fit into a smaller, heat-resistant package.
IAI remains in advanced development and is pursuing sales leads for its first customer.

History

Historical Context

In 1991, the United States deployed the Patriot missile system during the Gulf War, achieving the first operational interception of Iraqi Scud rockets. Raytheon’s Patriot, costing roughly $10 billion, recorded a 30 percent success rate against more than 100 incoming missiles, prompting rapid upgrades to radar and guidance. Today, Israel Aerospace Industries’ HawkGuard and Point@Air’s aerostat echo that legacy, employing AI-driven interceptor drones and Elta Systems’ EL/M-2083 AESA radar to neutralize hostile UAVs up to 150 km away. These capabilities promise tighter urban protection, limiting blast damage while reshaping military doctrine toward kinetic counter-UAV solutions worldwide.

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IAI Unveils HawkGuard

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled HawkGuard, an active protection system, at the AUSA expo in Washington.
HawkGuard fuses radar and electro-optical sensors with AI-enabled command and control to detect threats.
It launches interceptor drones that strike hostile targets by direct impact, eliminating explosives.
Kinetic interception reduces blast and collateral damage, suitable for dense civilian environments.
Tests confirmed detection, tracking and neutralization of varied drone threats, including coordinated attacks.

1 / 3