David's Sling, Iron Dome And More: Israel's Defence System?Explained

An Israeli security official said that in cooperation with the US, the Israeli Air Force intercepted many of the missiles, though there were some direct hits damaging buildings and igniting some fires.

Iran said the missiles were in response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Lebanon's Beirut. Iran also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of the Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July. Iran warned this attack represented only a "first wave", without elaborating.

Hezbollah, Lebanon's most powerful armed force, is a close ally and a proxy of Iran. 

Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

Israel and Hezbollah have carried out repeated strikes against each other since the war on Gaza began on October 7 following Palestinian militant group Hamas attack on Israeli territories. They came closes to an all-out war following the wave of explosions in Lebanon that hit pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members earlier in September, killing at least 37 people, including two children, and leaving about 3,000 injured.

Since the pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon, for which Israel has been blamed, multiple strikes have hit what the Israeli side has called Hezbollah targets in the country, killing hundreds so far. Hezbollah, vowing to retaliate, launched a wave of rockets on September 20, and has since then lost at least seven top commanders to Israeli strikes in Beirut and other areas.

Israel, a country for which missile attacks are not uncommon, intercepts such salvos with its sophisticated defence system. In an attack that Hezbollah claimed to target Israeli intelligence unit Mossad using Qader-1 missile, Israel used advanced David's Sling defence system to intercept the weapon. Not just this, famed Israeli air defence systems 'Iron Dome' and 'Arrow' have swung into action multiple times, detecting most of the projectiles flying in from the Iranian side.

What is David’s Sling?

David's Sling is a key component of Israel's air defence strategy. Originally called the "Magic Wand," it was developed starting in 2006 through a collaboration between the U.S. company Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. It became fully operational in 2017 under the guidance of the “Homa” Missile Directorate, part of Israel’s Defence Ministry.

Positioned between the Iron Dome and Iron Beam below the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 missiles, David's Sling plays a vital role in protecting Israel from various aerial threats. According to reports, it is specifically designed to target tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, enemy aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles, including the notorious Scud missiles.

How Does David’s Sling Work?

David's Sling utilises the multi-pulse Stunner missile, equipped with advanced sensors and control systems, alongside an AESA multi-mission radar for precise targeting and guidance. It features a vertical launcher that can hold a dozen Stunner missiles, allowing for efficient engagement with incoming threats. Notably, the Stunner missile does not carry a warhead; instead, it relies on its impact to neutralize targets.

The system has demonstrated effectiveness against short-range ballistic missiles, which make up 92% of the world’s missile inventory. Each interceptor is estimated to cost over $1 million and can intercept targets up to 300 kilometers away, including modern Russian and Chinese ballistic missiles. The system can also engage targets at altitudes of 14.4 kilometres.

Previous Challenges and Recent Developments

While David's Sling has seen success, it faced a setback in 2018 when it failed to intercept two missiles fired from Syria. This incident may have prompted the Israeli Air Force to test the system again during the recent missile attack to evaluate its performance.

In recent years, the David's Sling system has gained international interest. Finland, for example, signed a $345 million deal to acquire the Sling’s Blade following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the option to increase this to $600 million.

Dr. Yehoshua Kalisky of the Institute for National Security Studies explained to Globes that the David’s Sling is particularly effective for intercepting lower-altitude missiles. He noted that a missile launched from Lebanon doesn’t reach the same heights as one from Yemen, making David’s Sling the appropriate response.

Arrow System

Israel also employs the long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the earth's atmosphere, particularly in response to threats from Iranian missiles.

These systems use a detachable warhead that collides with the target and operate at altitudes that allow for the safe dispersal of non-conventional warheads. Israel Aerospace Industries is the main contractor for this project, with Boeing involved in producing the interceptors.

On October 31, 2023, Israel's military announced that it had successfully used the Arrow aerial defense system for the first time since the outbreak of the war with Hamas on October 7, intercepting a missile fired towards its territory.

Additionally, on September 28, Germany committed to purchasing the Arrow-3 missile defense system for nearly 4 billion euros ($4.2 billion).

Iron Dome

The short-range Iron Dome air defense system was developed to intercept rockets fired by Hamas from Gaza. Operational since 2011, it was created by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with U.S. support. Each truck-towed unit fires radar-guided missiles to neutralize short-range threats, including rockets, mortars, and drones. Israel has delivered Iron Dome batteries to the U.S. Army and is considering supplying Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

A naval version of the Iron Dome was deployed in 2017 to protect ships and sea-based assets. The system can distinguish between rockets heading for populated areas and those that will land harmlessly, allowing it to ignore the latter. Originally designed to cover cities against rockets with ranges of 4 to 70 kilometers (2.5 to 43 miles), experts believe its capabilities have since expanded.

Future Developments

Israel is also developing a laser-based interception system that could neutralize incoming threats at a fraction of the cost—approximately $2 per interception—compared to tens of thousands or millions for current systems.