Israeli successfully completes tests of futuristic missile defense system
The Defense Ministry announced that it has successfully completed the last phase of trials of the David’s Sling air defense system. The system has entered production stage and the Israel Air Force is expected to take possession of the system in the first quarter of 2016.
David’s sling can intercept short to medium range rockets and ballistic missiles including guided projectiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones, which is the main threat that Israel faces from it’s northern border. Its range means it can destroy incoming threats over enemy territory, away from Israeli skies and high enough to prevent damage from shrapnel. It will play a crucial part in the multi-layered defense system being developed by the Israeli Defense Ministry, complementing the Iron Dome (which defends against short range) and the Arrow 3 defense batteries (which defends against long range missiles).
The trials occurred in recent days in southern Israel, and were led by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which is developing David’s Sling, together with the US defense company Raytheon.
The Defense Ministry described the trials where “the system’s capabilities were tested in a number of scenarios that simulate the threats it was designed to deal with. Target missiles were fired, which were detected by a multi-mission radar. The radar transmitted the coordinates to a fire control center, that calculated defense counter-plans. David’s Sling interceptors were successfully fired, and carried out all of the flight stages, destroying the targets as planned,”
Shlomo S. (full name withheld), head of the David’s Sling program in Rafael explained “The emphasis is on guided, maneuvering threats carrying dozens of kilograms of warheads, which are highly destructive,” He added “This is first time technology of this kind has been used. It is on the verge of science fiction.”
