Test Firing Validates David’s Sling Air & Missile Defense System Maturity

 

In an intercept test performed last week RAFAEL validated the maturity of the David’s Sling system, scoring a direct hit on a rocket simulating a live medium range rocket. The David’s Sling system was developed under a US-Israeli cooperation; RAFAEL is the prime contractor and development authority with Raytheon the leading subcontractor and US program lead.

The system provides the ultimate indo-atmospheric interceptor, effectively intercepting ballistic missiles and medium range rockets, manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles and various types of guided weapons. The test conducted over southern Israel Nov. 22, 2012 spanning over a large area of the Israeli Negev desert, to realistically depict the weapon’s long-range capability.
This intercept will be followed by gradually more complex testing, leading toward operational fielding. The first David’s Sling unit will stand up in 2013 under the IAF active defense branch, its technical cadre already undergoing training at Rafael. Through 2013 the new unit will train the first cadre of operators for the new system, leading to the system’s initial operational capability in 2014.

For a fixed cost, Stunner would provide far more capabilities than any alternative approaches that would cost four times or more. A simulation of a hypothetical threat from a country possessing long and intermediate range ballistic missiles clearly demonstrates the case for the new Israeli missile. According to the assessment, a ballistic missile strike force comprising 600 SCUD type missiles and 200 long-range missiles, fired from 60-70 TELs could launch tens of missiles could be launched in quick succession over a few minutes. Many could be heading toward critical assets, while the impact points of few others are uncertain, thus requiring complex threat killing strategies..

Two defense strategies were compared. One, investing a billion US$ in current missiles, each worth around $4 million, the country would get around 240 interceptors. Attempting to intercept the threat, defenders will be required to launch at least 60 missiles to repel the attack, expending 25% of the nation’s defensive assets, against 10% of the enemy inventory. With this strategy, the country’s defensive shield will run dry in the fourth round.

In contrast, opting for David’s Sling only, or a mix of David’s Sling and existing interceptors, the same budget could buy 600 David’s Sling interceptors and 100 of the more expensive ones, saved for special purposes. In this case, less than 10% of the defensive shield will be spent to repel the threat (ten ‘golden missiles’ and 50 Stunners) and defenses would be maintained until the attacker runs out of missiles.