David’s Sling was jointly developed by Israel’s government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US defense contractor Raytheon.
By Pesach Benson, TPS
For the first time, Israel’s David’s Sling air defense system successfully intercepted ballistic missiles launched from Iran, Israel’s Defense Ministry said on Monday.
“This is the first interception of its kind by a system that wasn’t designed for such ranges,” a defense official said.
David’s Sling, also known as the Magic Wand, was originally built to counter medium-to-long-range threats at distances of 40-300 kilometers — primarily from Gaza and Lebanon — not ballistic missiles traveling 1,500 kilometers from Iran.
The system assisted the Arrow in intercepting the initial barrage targeting Israel’s Dan region. Notably, David’s Sling interceptors are significantly cheaper than the longer-range Arrow system.
Israel’s multi-layered air defenses have drawn considerable international attention for intercepting a variety of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones launched by Iran and its proxies during the past year.
David’s Sling was jointly developed by Israel’s government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US defense contractor Raytheon. The system was used operationally in 2018.
Israel set an all-time record for defense exports in 2024, with sales reaching $14.795 billion. International demand for Israel’s military technology has surged as European countries increased their defense budgets in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear sites on Friday, citing intelligence that Tehran had reached “a point of no return” in its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
According to Israeli defense officials, Iran has developed the capacity to rapidly enrich uranium and assemble nuclear bombs, with sufficient fissile material for up to 15 weapons.
Israeli intelligence also exposed a covert program to complete all components of a nuclear device.
The strikes mark a dramatic escalation in what officials describe as a broader Iranian strategy combining nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare aimed at Israel’s destruction.
