Chag Kasher v'Sameach!
April 7, 2017 | 11 Nisan 5777
Vol. 14, Iss. 14
www.JewishVoiceNY.com
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On Passover Hezbollah Rockets Will “Pass Over” Israel Thanks to “David’s Sling” Sophisticated Anti-Missile Defense System Fully Functional
The 'David's Sling' system is designed to shoot down incoming rockets with ranges of 25 to 190 miles (40-300 kilometers), targeting mostly the missiles that were fired by the Lebanese Hezbollah organization toward Israel in recent years. The lowest layer is the Iron Dome system, capable of intercepting short-range rockets, small unmanned aerial vehicles and some mortar shells like those that have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip or from southern Lebanon.
P
rime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, representatives of the United States military attaché to the IDF, and a host of senior IDF officials gathered at the Hatzor Air Force Base on Sunday to inaugurate the David’s Sling anti-aircraft and anti-missile system. Also attending the ceremony were IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, US Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Admiral James Syring and Israeli Air Defense Commander Brig.-Gen. Zvi Haimovitz.
The 'David's Sling' system is designed to shoot down incoming rockets with ranges of 25 to 190 miles (40-300 kilometers), targeting mostly the missiles that were fired by the Lebanese Hezbollah organization toward Israel in recent years. It will make up the middle tier of Israel’s multi-layer missile defense capabilities, according to a Fox News report. The lowest layer is the Iron Dome system, capable of intercepting short-range rockets, small unmanned aerial vehicles and some mortar shells like those that have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip or from southern Lebanon. In December of 2014, the Jewish Voice reported that the David’s Sling
missile defense system would be put through advanced trials before being made operational. The system, also known as the "Magic Wand", was
Iron Dome went from the drawing board to combat readiness within less than four years, a remarkably short period of time for a weapons system designed from scratch, according to military experts. jointly developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and the US firm Raytheon Co. The intercep-
tor, known as "Stunner," is a two-stage missile that can reach a top speed of Mach 7.5 and consists of a "kill vehicle" with advanced steering for super maneuvering during the kill phase. In 2005, Brig. Gen. Danny Gold, then head of Maf 'at, decided to start the program that would include the system's research and a demonstration of the intercepting system. In 2007, Israel commissioned the development of Iron Dome, choosing Israeli contractor Rafael over the American giant Lockheed Martin. Israeli company mPrest Systems was put in charge of programming the core of Iron Dome's battle management system. Iron Dome went from the drawing board
to combat readiness within less than four years, a remarkably short period of time for a weapons system designed from scratch, according to military experts. On January 17, 2014, former President Obama signed the fiscal year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The bill provided $235 million for Israel to procure the Iron Dome system. The Israeli government had also agreed to spend more than half the funds the United States provides for the Iron Dome system in the United States. Funds going to U.S. contractors
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By: Andrew Friedman