Israel have operationalised the David Sling medium range air defense system battery, adding a new layer of air defense to the country.
Israel have operationalised the David Sling medium range air defense system battery, adding a new layer of air defense to the country.
The David Sling was jointly developed by Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and U.S. Raytheon to provide active defense from medium range missiles to replace Israeli Raytheon Patriot air defense units.
The mid-tier air defense system can engage missiles with a range from 70 to 250 km. It is supplemented by the Iron Dome short range air defense system and the Arrow long range air defense system in Israel's multi-tiered air defense system.
The weapon system is composed of a Battle Management & Command Array, as well as an Interceptor Array. A Multi-Mission Radar is used for the detection and tracking of threats. Mounted on trucks, a single missile launcher unit contains 12 interceptor missile.
In January, Israel and U.S. had jointly completed a series of interception tests using the David Sling system to qualify for induction into service. The first battery will shortly carry out the first operational interception.
The system is equipped with the Stunner interceptor missile which have two targeting and guidance systems installed in its nose-tip (a radar and an electro-optical sensor).
In Jan 2017, Israel inducted the first batch of operational Arrow-3 long range ballistic missile defense systems, featuring extended range interception capabilities.
In March 2017, the Arrow 3 system successfully intercepted an surface to air missile fired at Israeli Air Force fighter jets, who were returning after attacking a probable arm shipment to Hezbollah.
