The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully completed a series of tests of the David’s Sling Weapon System. (DVDS)
TEL AVIV — On May 10th, the David’s Sling air defense system intercepted a long-range rocket launched from Gaza above Tel Aviv — the first time the weapon has successfully been used to defend Israeli citizens.
The first successful intercept by David’s Sling will likely lead to a new wave of interest from countries in the region, even as the Israeli Ministry of defense is still rejecting any proposed deal of the Iron Dome and David’s Sling with the countries that have signed the Abraham Accords.
David’s Sling was developed by Rafael and is designed to intercept short-range ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets, and cruise missiles. The system includes a vertical missile launcher, an ELM-2084 fire control radar, a combat control station and the launcher; it is designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles at a distance of 40-300 km.
The heavy rocket was one of the 500 that the Islamic Jihad terror organization launched in the last two days into Israel, in retaliation for a Tuesday strike by Israeli forces that reportedly killed a trio of Islamic Jihad leaders.
Most of these with a trajectory that threatened Israeli civilians have been interpreted by the Iron Dome system. Unlike Iron Dome, the David’s Sling “Stunner” interceptor has no warhead but instead intercepts the incoming weapons directly, according to a government fact sheet, which lists the price of the interceptor at $1 million each.
Raytheon, Rafael’s US partner in the David’s Sling program, has been briefed on the details of the intercept over central Israel, Breaking Defense has learned.
There is growing interest in David’s Sling across Europe, with the war in Ukraine having encouraged a desire for missile defense capabilities. Finland became the first country to buy the system last month, for €316 million ($345 million).
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