Israel's newest missile defense system, designed to provide another layer of protection against enemy fire, is on schedule for deployment in 2014, defense officials said.
Israel's newest missile defense system, designed to provide another layer of protection against enemy fire, is on schedule for deployment in 2014, defense officials said Tuesday.
The "David's Sling" system, named after the famous weapon in the biblical David and Goliath story, is part of a multi-layered defense against incoming rockets and missiles. Two of the elements are operational.
Last year, Israel activated a system that intercepts rockets fired from short distances of up to 70 kilometers (50 miles). Israel says "Iron Dome" has shot down dozens of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, including several fired over the past week, with 80 percent effectiveness.
Israel has also deployed the "Arrow," a joint Israel-U.S. system meant to shoot down longer-range missiles fired from Iran. The next generation of the Arrow, now in the development stage, is set to be deployed in 2016.
The next generation, called the Arrow 3, will strike its target outside atmosphere, intercepting missiles closer to their launch. Together, the two Arrow systems will provide two chances to strike down incoming missiles.