Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Defense News: Another Layer of Protection: David’s Sling Successfully Performs Live-Fire Tests

 

Another Layer of Protection: David’s Sling Successfully Performs Live-Fire Tests


The scenarios simulated advanced threats, enhancing the system's capabilities and significantly improving the country’s multi-tiered air and missile defense array.  

By  IsraelDefense,10/07/2023


David's Sling firing test: Photo credit: Israel Ministry of Defense Spokesperson’s Office

The Israeli Air Force, Ministry of Defense Israel Missile Defense Organization, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have successfully concluded a series of exercises and tests in southern Israel in which the "David's Sling" air and missile defense system intercepted complex scenarios.

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 “David’s Sling” successfully performed a series of live-fire tests, specifically designed to counter advanced threats like ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircrafts, and UAVs. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems also participated in the tests.

The exercises and tests examined the system's existing capabilities in a number of challenging scenarios, proving the system's operational capabilities during conflict. They also constitute an additional important milestone in the operational integration of the system into the Israeli Air Force, in the face of the variety of threats in the various combat arenas of the IDF.

Senior leadership from the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), a key partner in the development and production of the David’s Sling system, were on site to witness the event.

The David's Sling system, together with the Arrow systems, the Iron Dome, and the C-Dome (the naval configuration of the Iron Dome), forms an essential layer of the State of Israel's air and missile defense array.

The Israel Ministry of Defense, through the IMDO, leads their development efforts. The primary contractor for the system is Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with Raytheon Missile Systems as a sub-contractor. The MMR is developed by Elta, a subsidiary of IAI, and Elbit Systems is the developer of the BMC command center.

Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir expressed his satisfaction with the successful tests and the significant advancement in the capabilities of the David's Sling system. 

Director of the DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, stated following the tests: “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.”

"The Israeli Air Force, in collaboration with our partners in the field of air defense force build-up processes, operates tirelessly day and night to fully unleash the potential of the system and optimize its performance in diverse and demanding scenarios,” commented IAF Chief of Air Staff, Brig. Gen. Eyal Grinboim.

“Through the testing of this model, we have successfully demonstrated our ability to carry out successful interceptions even in the most challenging scenarios. The combat soldiers have proven their outstanding operational capabilities yet again."


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