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David’s Sling anti-missile system passes final test, soon ready for use
A successful final test was carried out yesterday on the mid-range anti-missile defence system, David’s Sling. Israeli officials predict that it will be operational during 2016.
Yesterday’s test in southern Israel apparently saw the interceptor missile launch, perform all flight phases and then successfully engage multiple targets, some with a set trajectory and others with a more unpredictable flight path. Designed to tackle rockets and projectiles with a range of 63 to 125 miles, David’s Sling, also known as the Magic Wand, will soon be handed over to Israel’s Air Force for deployment. David’s Sling can be based at a static location, but is more likely to be utilised initially as a mobile battery, like the Iron Dome system.
Alongside the Iron Dome, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, David’s Sling is part of Israel’s layered aerial defence system, which is being developed in coordination with the United States. The Iron Dome defence system, which was widely deployed during Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, provides protection from short and mid-range ballistic threats, typically from Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, other surface-to-air interceptors including Arrow 3 are designed to counter the threat of longer range missiles, including the Iranian Shihab-3 missiles. Together, these systems aim to provide Israel with a protective umbrella to counter all forms of ballistic threats. Earlier this month, the Arrow 3 successfully passed a missile intercept test for the first time.
A statement from Israel’s Defence Ministry said that yesterday’s test was “the final milestone before declaring delivery of an operational system to the Israeli Air Force in 2016.” David’s Sling is being manufactured jointly by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and American company Raytheon, with Israel’s Elbit Systems providing command and control technology.
An anonymous Rafael representative said, “We achieved all of our goals completely with this [final] test,” and that, “The targets were things the David’s Sling weapons system will have to face — but I hope not in the near future.”