IAF receives initial delivery of David's Sling components
After completion of final series of tests, the Air Force receives missile-defense system's interception, command and control, and radar systems; after testing their performance, the system could become operational.
After a series of final tests, the advanced interceptor system was successfully completed last December. The Missile Defense Directorate of the Defense Ministry's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, together with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), has begun delivering the system’s central components to the Air Force.
The delivery process is gradual, according to David’s Sling development plan, and is expected to go on for a few weeks. In the first phase, the project's managers began delivering the interception, command and control, and radar systems. The IAF will now start testing the performance of all of the system's components, following which the system will be declared operational.
David’s Sling is considered the most innovative and revolutionary among interceptor systems in the world. This system, which will be a part of a multi-layered defense system being developed by the Missile Defense Directorate in collaboration with the Air Force, would allow Israel to deal more effectively with a wide range of current and future threats to its safety.
David’s Sling will provide an additional layer of protection against missiles and rockets at short and medium ranges and will add interception capabilities to the Arrow system. This will bolster Israel's defenses against the threat of missiles and rockets.
The system is designed to operate independently in accordance with Israel's security needs and the threats it faces from enemies that could launch several volleys at the same time from ranges of tens to hundreds of kilometers. It can also operate in tandem with other defense systems at the IAF's disposal - the Arrow and Iron Dome.
The US budget for missile defense increased this year, and the white House is preparing to send a request to Congress for supplementary budget based on changing security needs. Thus, the budget for the multi-layered defense system in 2016 will be similar to that of previous years and perhaps even higher.
There are two significant tests planned for the Arrow system (Arrow 2 and Arrow 3) in 2016, as well as further development and testing of David’s Sling. The cooperation with the Americans is notable both regarding the technology and in the context of their participation in financing the development and production of the programs.
