Israeli firm IAI is bringing POINT@AIR, a compact AESA radar on a tethered balloon, to AUSA in Washington this week, Defence Blog reported. The idea is a mobile elevated look at low drones and aircraft, without fixed infrastructure. Range, altitude, endurance, price and any customer were not given. It is based on the ELM-2083 family, with electronic beam steering and mechanical rotation for 360-degree coverage. The larger ELM-2083 is an L-band aerostat radar derived from Green Pine and already supplied to India. CEO Guy Bar Lev called persistent sight the start of defence. ELTA’s Dror Bar said the point was a rethink, not a shrink. The U.S. Army used smaller camera balloons in Iraq and Afghanistan. It cancelled JLENS after one broke free over Maryland in 2015. #IAI #POINTAIR #Aerostat #AUSA #ELTA