DAVID'S SLING UPGRADED

Israel upgrades David's Sling air defense system following trials

In the series of tests, conducted in cooperation with the Defense Ministry, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US Missile Defense Agency, advanced scenarios were examined against existing and evolving threats.

 

by Lilach Shoval 

 

Israel Hayom

Feb 11, 2026 

David’s Sling Air Defence System.

 

 

Israel's David's Sling air defense system has successfully completed a series of complex tests designed to enhance its readiness against future threats, Israel's Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. The trials were conducted in cooperation with the Defense Ministry, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US Missile Defense Agency.

 

The tests were carried out by the Israel Missile Defense Organization, known by its Hebrew acronym Homa, within the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Defense Research and Development, together with the US Missile Defense Agency and Rafael. The advanced air defense system is designed to intercept a range of threats, including rockets, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

 

 

 

David's Sling air defense system.

 

 

The series of trials, built on operational lessons learned during the war and from Operation Rising Lion, included a variety of challenging scenarios reflecting both existing and emerging threats. Defense officials said the successful tests mark another technological and operational breakthrough in upgrading the system, which demonstrated high performance during the war, carrying out successful interceptions that saved lives and prevented extensive damage.

 

David's Sling constitutes a central layer in Israel's multi-tiered air defense array, which also includes the Arrow missile defense system, Iron Dome and Iron Beam, the laser-based system recently delivered to the Israeli Air Force. The system's development is led by the Defense Ministry through the Israel Missile Defense Organization in cooperation with Israeli defense industries and the US Missile Defense Agency.

 

Rafael is the prime contractor for David's Sling. Israel Aerospace Industries, through its Elta division, developed the MMR radar, while Elbit Systems developed the command-and-control system.