The air defense fighters intercepted this morning (Wednesday) with the help of the “Slingshot of David” one launch of a surface-to-surface missile that crossed from Lebanon towards the area of Gush Dan and Sharon. The characteristics of the system, when it carried out its first interception and the purchase deal worth approximately NIS 1.3 billion – “Israel Hayom” is sorting it out.
Communication sounds from the interception of a surface-to-surface missile towards the Gush Dan area in the morning // IDF spokesman
A central layer of protection
The “David Slingshot” system is a central layer of defense in the national air defense system, which also includes the Arrow, Iron Dome, and Naval Iron Dome systems, the development of which is led by the Ministry of Defense through the Wall Directorate of the Defense Ministry.
The Rafael company is the main developer of the “Kele David” defense system. The Aerospace Industry, through the Elta division, developed the MMR radar, Elbit Systems develops the command and control system of the David Sling system.
The first interception
In May of this year, six years after it became operational and entered service with the Air Force, the system made the first interception “on wet.”
The commander of the 66th Battalion, Lt. Col. Roital Barzani, later told Israel Hayom: “The battalion has been operational for several years, and it is a relevant operational system. In the current promotion we were given an amazing opportunity. We felt that all the years we had worked for the operationalization of the system were concentrated for a few seconds during which the interceptor was launched to the target. Beyond the sense of pride and history, one of the phrases we said at the moment of the interception is that you need to be quick, because more goals can come. We are not being tested on a single interception, but there is no doubt that it was a historic moment for the system and for the battalion and its men.”
In a podcast presented by Yaron Blum – “highly classified”, Col. Moshe Fatal, head of the Wall Directorate at the Israel Defense Forces, said about the David Slingshot system: “Its purpose is to intercept as far as possible from the country’s borders, it can maneuver sharply and deal with precise threats and sophisticated cruise missiles.”
In July 2023, even before the “Iron Swords” war broke out, the Air Force, the Wall Directorate of the Defense Ministry and the “Raphael” company successfully completed a series of trainings and experiments of the system that included successful interceptions in a number of challenging and complex scenarios, which these days has become a reality.
The historic sale of the ‘David Slingshot’ system to Finland, photo: Spokesperson and Public Relations Division at the Ministry of Defense
proved its effectiveness to the world
On November 13, 2023, after the system had already proven its effectiveness to the world, Finland announced that it was purchasing the air defense system in a deal worth approximately NIS 1.3 billion. The initial announcement of the intention to purchase the “David Slingshot” system came just one day (April 6) after it officially joined the NATO alliance following the growing threats from Russia in view of the war in Ukraine and the support of European countries.
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