Defense Ministry says tests “simulated advanced threats, enhancing the system’s capabilities.”
By Pesach Benson, TPS
Israel’s Defense Ministry on Sunday announced that the David’s Sling missile defense system passed a series of advanced tests.
“The scenarios simulated advanced threats, enhancing the system’s capabilities and significantly improving the State of Israel’s multi-tiered air and missile defense array,” the ministry said.
David’s Sling intercepted its first rocket fired by Gaza’s Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group heading towards Tel Aviv in May during a five-day conflict. The system also shot down a missile en route to Jerusalem.
Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, Director of the ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development, said, “During Operation ‘Shield and Arrow’, we witnessed the first operational interception of the David’s Sling defense system. This challenging operation showcased the system’s broad operational capabilities, proving the State of Israel’s qualitative advantage and global technological leadership, both in the field of air and missile defense and in general. ”
Israel’s multi-tier air and missile defense array consists of four operational defense tiers: Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3. The Israeli Navy is also developing a naval version of the Iron Dome called C-Dome to protect ships and offshore natural gas reserves.
Primary contractor for the David’s Sling system is the Haifa-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.