JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel successfully tested its newest missile defense system, called David’s Sling.
The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said Sunday that David’s Sling, also known as Magic Wand, intercepted a midrange missile during a test-firing of the system.
The system is designed to intercept missiles and rockets with a range of up to nearly 200 miles, especially rockets fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon, according to reports.
David’s Sling, which is scheduled for deployment in 2014, is being developed jointly by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel and the Raytheon Co. in the United States.
The Iron Dome system is designed to intercept short-range rockets. The Israeli military said Iron Dome intercepted 80 percent to 90 percent of rockets fired from Gaza at Israel during the recent Operation Pillar of Defense.
