The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the end of the Sky Dew balloon project due to concerns over its effectiveness and safety.
According to information from the portal Militarnyi, the surveillance system — designed to detect drones and cruise missiles — failed to meet expectations after being hit by Hezbollah last year.
The Sky Dew was introduced as a high-tech solution to protect Israel’s northern borders. The balloon, launched in 2021, was developed by the Elta division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), in cooperation with the Air Force and the country’s Missile Defense Agency, and manufactured by the American company TCOM.
In addition to detecting low-flying threats such as cruise missiles or drones, the balloon could share data with other Israeli air defense systems, such as the Iron Dome or David’s Sling.
Its launch was accompanied by significant investments and high expectations, but after the attack, the project lost credibility.
Following the Hezbollah attack in 2024, the IDF decided to transfer the personnel who operated the balloon to other units. Now, the future of Operation Sky Dew is under review.
Photo: Israel Defense Ministry Spokesperson’s Office. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
