Tel Aviv: The Israeli developed David’s Sling air defence systems will play a much greater role in future military confrontation involving salvos of ballistic missiles aimed at Israel. This as an initial lesson from recent military confrontations with Iran.
The Israeli multi-layered air defence system managed to intercept the major part of Iranian ballistic missiles but those that went through caused heavy damage and casualties. The plan is to increase the use of the David’s Sling in an attempt to intercept those ballistic missiles that were not intercepted by the Arrow 3.
Israel’s David’s Sling missile defence system made by Rafael plays a vital and increasingly prominent role in defending against ballistic missile threats as part of the country’s multi-layered air defence architecture. The system is designed specifically to intercept and destroy medium- and long-range rockets, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles at ranges of 40–300km. It operates as the crucial “middle tier” in Israel’s defence, sitting between the short-range Iron Dome and the long-range Arrow 2/3 systems.
David’s Sling utilises the sophisticated “Stunner” interceptor, which is capable of high speed and manoeuvrability and employs a hit-to-kill strategy of operation. The system’s efficiency was demonstrated in recent operational use, such as during Iran’s massive missile and drone attack in 2024, and the recent 12 days war between Israel and Iran.
An Israeli source said that in addition to the increased number of David’s Sling systems, the operational “foot print” will have to be enhanced by the addition of more “sensors”.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
