Experiment in the David's Sling system (IDF Spokesman)
The IDF on Wednesday used for the first time the David's Sling system to operationally intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip over the skies of Gush Dan, as part of Operation Shield and Arrow. This comes a month after Finland announced it would buy it for about $345 million.
The David's Sling system, formerly known as the "Magic Wand," is designed to intercept advanced threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. The system was developed jointly by the Homa Directorate at the Ministry of Defense and the American MDA, led by Rafael and Raytheon. Fighters of the Ram Battalion (66) in the IDF's air defense system activated the system that intercepted the rocket.
David's Sling is the third layer of the national missile and rocket defense system, above the future laser system Magen Or and Iron Dome, and below the Arrow-2 and 3 missiles. The system was developed by Rafael and Raytheon to intercept heavy rockets with a range of 40-300 km, cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft. Development began in 2006 with American funding and the system entered service in 2016, with its interceptor missile having a unique structure and equipped with both a radar and an optical sensor. Its control system is manufactured by Elbit, and the radar - ELTA, by IAI.
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David's Sling system (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
In 2018, two years later, David's sling failed in its first operational interception, of two Syrian missiles. It is possible that because of the failure, this time the Air Force's air defense system decided to use the system in order to test it again and improve it. So far, David's Sling has been sold to one foreign customer, Finland, which, as part of improving its military preparedness following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, announced last month that it would buy the system in a deal worth $345 million, with an option to increase it to $600 million.
A former senior officer told Walla that he saw "no operational need" to use the Star of David. He added, "I suspect that the real reason is the need for a marketing 'tool experiment' for the benefit of the business of Rafael, the manufacturer of the expensive system, which is trying to market it worldwide."
- news
- Military & Security
Tags
- Operation Shield and Arrow
- David's Sling
- Ministry of Defense
- Elbit
