OVERVIEW:  The David's Sling aka Magic Wand  battery is a mobile SAM system designed to intercept enemy planes, drones, tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets and cruise missiles, fired at ranges from 40 km (24.85 miles) to 300 km (186.41 miles)


DETAILS: The David's Sling system is designed to bolster the second tier of Israel's theater missile defense system by providing an cost-effective defense against short-range and theater ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets and cruise missiles. David’s Sling is intended to serve as Israel’s middle tier of defense against regional adversaries’ missiles and rockets launched at trajectories that neither the Arrow system nor the Iron Dome can effectively defend against.  The system engages using the terminal-phase, hit-to-kill Stunner missile. A typical battery has six launchers and 50 interceptors per battery.



NOTES: IOC: 2017. David's Sling is meant to replace the MIM-23 Hawk and MIM-104 Patriot in the Israeli arsenal. The system's open architecture enables designed to give it "plug and play" insertion into fielded air and missile defense systems. 


SOURCES: Accessed November 30, 2020. https://www.rafael.co.il/worlds/air-missile-defense/long-range-air-missile-defense/; "David's Sling (Israel)." Missile Threat. Last modified April 14, 2016; https://missilethreat.csis.org/defsys/davids-sling/ ; "David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile." Raytheon Missiles & Defense. Accessed November 30, 2020. https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/capabilities/products/davidssling ; Pike, John. "David's Sling." GlobalSecurity.org. Last modified 3, 2019. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/davids-sling.htm ; Rafael. "Stunner Terminal Missile Defense Interceptor." WebCite. Accessed November 30, 2020. https://www.webcitation.org/69UamhbL5?url=www.rafael.co.il/marketing/SIP_STORAGE/FILES/3/1023.pdf.