David’s Sling wins Technology Pioneer Award

The Missile-defense system became operational in April.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
THE AWARD presented to the David’s Sling Weapons System is seen. (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
THE AWARD presented to the David’s Sling Weapons System is seen.
(photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
The David’s Sling weapons system was awarded the prestigious Technology Pioneer Award at the 2017 Multinational Ballistic Missile Defense Conference in Boston, the Defense Ministry announced.
The award, presented on Tuesday in recognition of the system’s groundbreaking achievements in lower-tier ballistic- and cruise-missile defenses, is given each year by the Multinational BMD Conference’s International Program Committee in recognition of significant technical achievement in the field of missile defense.
“With a robust system-of-systems architecture and breakthrough Stunner Interceptor technologies, David’s Sling attains cutting-edge performance in protection against endo-atmospheric threats on a national scale,” read a statement by the ministry.
David’s Sling is a joint Israel- US project, with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems collaborating with American defense contractor Raytheon.
Other components of the system were developed by Elta – a subdivision of Israel Aerospace Industries – which developed the system’s multi-mission radar, and the Elisra subdivision of Elbit Systems, which developed the battle management command and control mechanisms known as the Golden Almond.
The award was given during the 30th annual Multinational BMD Conference, and was accepted on behalf of the State of Israel by Moshe Patel, the director of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization, who said that the system’s capabilities are a significant breakthrough in the world of interception technology.
“The unique characteristics of the system interceptors are astounding in every test that is done. The David’s Sling Weapons System is an important component of Israel’s operational capability to defend the country against regional missile threats. I would like to thank to our American partners on the recognition of the DSWS and the message it brings along,” he said.
Pini Yungman, executive vice president and head of Rafael’s Air Superiority Systems Division, called the system one of the world’s most advanced missile defense systems and said that the award is another testimony to the technological breakthrough that it represents.
Israel’s air defenses include the Iron Dome, designed to shoot down short-range rockets, and the Arrow system, which intercepts ballistic missiles outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The David’s Sling missile defense system, which became operational in April, is designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, as well as cruise missiles fired at ranges between 40 km. and 300 km.
Together, the systems provide Israel with a comprehensive protective umbrella able to counter threats posed by both short- and mid-range missiles used by terrorist groups in Gaza and Hezbollah as well as the threat posed by more sophisticated long-range Iranian ballistic missiles.