After the first successful operational use of the David’s Sling missile defense system during the recent conflict with the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, the Israeli Defense Ministry has officially adopted the common day for the system.
The ministry, in consultation with Rafel Advanced Defense Systems, decided to move away from the development name of the system, Magic Wand, and to formally adopt David’s Sling, which is the name the IDF has used.
The David’s Sling system is designed to intercept medium-range missiles. Combined with the Iron Dome system for short-range missiles and rockets and the Arrow system for long-range missiles, the three systems provide a multi-layered defense of Israel’s skies. It is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones.
The system achieved its first successful interception of a rocket under combat conditions on May 10, when it was deployed to shoot down a rocket which was fired at the Tel Aviv area during Operation Shiel and Arrow.