The Israeli military has launched what it describes as the world’s largest surveillance balloon, a massive airborne monitoring and surveillance device named “Sky Dew.”
It is specifically designed for monitoring and countering infiltrations along the northern borders, aiming to detect various threats originating from southern Lebanon, primarily those launched by Hezbollah, including drones and missiles of all kinds.
This initiative is part of Israel’s proactive defense strategy, as reported by various Israeli media outlets, including The Times of Israel, which publishes content in both Arabic and English.
However, the complex monitoring system aboard the balloon, visible from afar in Lebanon, is still in the preparation phase and not yet operational, according to a statement from the Israeli Air Force.
The balloon, known as “Tel Shemim” in Hebrew, is equipped with dozens of specialized cameras, small computers, and large radar systems. It measures 117 meters in length and weighs several thousand kilograms.
The balloon made its first appearance on Saturday amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
It is white in color, and both Tel Aviv and Washington have contributed to its development as a monitoring system. American teams were specially dispatched to Israel to assemble and inflate the balloon over several years.
Once fully operational, it will be capable of conducting patrols over the triangular border region with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, extending hundreds of kilometers into the territories of these countries.
