Click to see the full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
The wreckage of an interceptor missile found in southern Israel on April 7 provided the first evidence that the country’s multi-layered air defense network is facing a shortage.
Video footage of the wreckage, determined to belong to a Stunner interceptor fired from a David’s Sling air defense system, surfaced online just a few hours before the United States announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. Israel voiced its support of the ceasefire, which came 39 days after the start of the war on the Islamic Republic.
The interceptor, found in the Arab Bedouin town of Tel Sheva, carried markings indicating that it was only produced in January of this year.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
This indicates that Israel burned through most of its Stunner stockpiles, and was using interceptors produced just a few months before the start of the war on Iran.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
David’s Sling was jointly developed by the Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American defense contractor Raytheon. It became operational in 2017.
The air defense system is designed to intercept planes, drones, tactical ballistic missiles, medium to long-range rockets and cruise missiles, fired at ranges from 40 to 300 kilometers.
The Stunner is equipped with dual CCD/IR and active radar seekers especially designed to distinguish between decoys and the actual warhead of the missile. The missile also receives tracking data from Elta EL/M-2084 active electronically scanned array multi-mode radar.
The multi-stage interceptor consists of a solid-fuel rocket motor booster, followed by an asymmetrical kill vehicle with advanced steering for super-maneuverability during the kill-stage. A three-pulse motor provides additional acceleration and maneuverability during the terminal phase.
A single interceptor costs upwards of $1 million, and while the production rate is kept under tight wraps, the complexity of the missile suggests that only a few dozens are produced a month, at best.
David’s Sling forms the middle tier of Israel’s multi-layer air defense capabilities, which also include the short-range Iron Beam and Iron Dome, and a top tier of Arrow systems especially designed to engage long-range ballistic missiles.
Just two weeks into the war, reports of shortage of interceptors, practically in Israel, began to emerge. The Israeli military denied this, however.
Later reports revealed, however, that the Israeli military began limiting its use of its most advanced missile interceptors, in favor of on upgraded but less capable systems
The Israeli air defense network leaned heavily on the Arrow system to counter Iranian ballistic missiles at the start of the war. However, according to one report by The Wall Street Journal, the Israelis later began conserving these high-end interceptors, turning instead to enhanced versions of David’s Sling and even Iron Dome for threats they were not originally designed to handle.
An analytic report released earlier by The Jerusalem Post concluded that the David’s Sling, while highly effective against shorter range missiles, has failed against heavier ones.
This shortage was likely a key contributing factor to Israel’s decision to accept the two-week ceasefire with Iran announced by the U.S.
Israel will likely attempt to replenish its stockpile during the ceasefire. However, two weeks will not likely be enough to produce any meaningful number of interceptors.
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that would be hilarious if they were down to using practice missiles.
shity shitrael, started a war it cannot sustain. with jews, you lose
they just lie. iranian missiles went thru this bs multi layered shitass defence.
aa a retired aericunt burger flipper i can verify that americunt anuz frequently intercepts hebrew jizz