A David’s Sling system test in December 2015. Photo: United States Missile Defense Agency.

JNS.org – Israel’s cutting-edge David’s Sling Weapons System (DSWS) was awarded the Technology Pioneer Award at the 2017 Multinational Ballistic Missile Defense Conference in Boston on Tuesday.

“The marvelous capabilities of the David Sling Defense System are a significant breakthrough in the world of interception technology,” said Moshe Patel, director of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization. “The unique characteristics of the system interceptors are astounding in every test that is done. The DSWS 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,” Patel added.

David’s Sling, also known as the “Magic Wand,” joined Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow anti-missile systems in April, with all three missile interceptors jointly developed and funded by the US and Israel.

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US firm Raytheon designed David’s Sling, the middle tier of Israel’s multilayered missile defense program, to intercept mid-to-long-range ballistic missiles with ranges from 25-190 miles. Iron Dome intercepts short-range targets, and Arrow has the longest-range capabilities — its latest iteration can intercept long-range ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere.