Israel’s co-manufacturer Rafael says David’s Sling is designed to complement the deployment of Israel’s Iron Dome defensive shield used in the Gaza conflict, and will be operational within 2 years.
Once shrouded in secrecy, Israel’s David’s Sling missile interceptor went on display for the first time this week at the Paris Air Show.
David’s Sling, also known as the ‘Magic Wand’ system, can intercept mid-range missiles. – Photo: Haaretz Archive
Co-developed by the U.S. firm Raytheon and Israeli company Rafael, David’s Sling (also known as the Magic Wand) is a missile defense system designed to safeguard Israeli citizens from attack.
Rafael say the system is designed to complement the Iron Dome defensive shield used in the Gaza conflict, and will be operational within two years.
Also known as the Stunner, the missile is part of a three-tier system.
It will be used as a bridge between the existing Iron Dome system, which intercepts short-range rockets, and the Arrow, targeting ballistic missiles.
The Sling is capable of intercepting incoming rockets more than 160 kilometers away.
“Iron Dome is point defense,” says Yossi Horowitz, business development and marketing director of Rafael. “It can protect a mid-sized city in Israel at some level of altitude, but David’s Sling defeats all the threats up to very high altitude, very long range… it’s totally different.”
Until now all that’s been seen of it is a brief video handout of a secret desert test last November.
View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/watch-david-s-sling-missile-defense-system-goes-on-display-for-first-time-1.531437
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