BICOM

A new missile defence system being developed by Israel and the United States, designed to intercept medium range rockets, was tested successfully in the last few days. The new system, known in English as ‘David’s Sling’, (the Hebrew name translates as ‘Magic Wand’) is being developed by Israel’s contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American defence contractor Raytheon, and is designed to intercept missiles fired from more than 70 km, including short-range ballistic missiles, large caliber rockets and cruise missile. The successful test follows the success of the Iron Dome missile defence system in intercepting hundreds of short range rockets fired at Israeli during Operation Pillar of Defence. Another system already deployed, known as Arrow, is designed to intercept longer range missiles. David’s Sling was originally designed to protect Israel from attacks by the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon, but could also be used against missile attacks from Iran.

The urgent need for such a defence system was apparent yesterday, when Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah made a public statement threatening to strike at the heart of Israel with thousands of  rockets in any future war.