Recently, Israel activated its David’s Sling medium-range air-defense system, marking the first time since it declared war on Hamas that the country has turned to aerial protection beyond the Iron Dome.
- David’s Sling is the middle layer of Israel’s sophisticated air-defense network.
- It is complemented by the Iron Dome and the Arrow systems, for smaller and larger threats, respectively.
- Together, these protect Israel and its nearly 9,000 square miles of territory from artillery, drones, rockets, and missiles of all sorts.
- Also known as the Magic Wand, it fires an interceptor called the Stunner (which doesn’t have a warhead) to defeat medium- to long-range rockets and missiles at a range of up to 185 miles.
- The David’s Sling system includes a missile firing unit, a fire control radar, a battle management station, and the interceptor.
