Air Defense

David's Sling air-defense system

Also known as
  • David's Sling
  • David's Sling Weapon System
  • DSWS
  • Magic Wand
  • Sharvit Ksamim
  • Stunner Weapon System

David's Sling is Israel's mid-tier air and missile defense layer, co-developed by Rafael and Raytheon around the Stunner/SkyCeptor hit-to-kill interceptor. Operational since 2017, it sits between Iron Dome and Arrow in Israel's layered network and has documented wartime use against rockets from Gaza and Lebanon, surface-to-air missiles over Lebanon, and Iranian missile attacks.

David's Sling air-defense system, Air and missile defense system, Air Defense
Image source: Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0016

Role in Conflicts

May 2023 Israel-Gaza Conflict
Air Defense
Side
Israel

Used by Israel during the May 2023 Israel-Gaza Conflict for David's Sling's first operational interceptions, engaging a Gaza-fired rocket toward the Tel Aviv area on May 10 and another rocket fired toward Jerusalem on May 12, 2023.

2023 Israel-Hamas War
Air Defense
Side
Israel

Used by Israel in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War to intercept a long-range Hamas rocket fired from Gaza on October 13, 2023; JISS identified the projectile as an Ayyash 250 launched toward northern Israel.

Role details
2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Air Defense
Side
Israel

Used by Israel in the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict to intercept a surface-to-air missile fired toward an Israeli UAV over Lebanon on February 26, 2024, and a rocket launched from southern Lebanon over central Israel on September 25, 2024.

2024 Iran-Israel Exchange
Air Defense
Side
Israel

Used by Israel as part of its layered air-defense response during Iran's April 2024 drone and missile attack; public reporting identifies David's Sling among the systems utilized without assigning a public intercept count to the system.

Role details
Layered-Defense Role

David's Sling is a system of launchers, interceptors, radar, and command elements. Its catalog role is the middle layer of Israel's air-defense network: heavier and longer-ranged than Iron Dome, but below Arrow's upper-tier ballistic-missile mission.

Launcher

CSIS describes a trailer-mounted vertical launcher that can hold up to 12 Stunner interceptors.

Source: CSIS David's Sling.

Interceptor

Rafael identifies Stunner as the system interceptor, while RTX markets the David's Sling system with the SkyCeptor missile name.

Sources: Rafael David's Sling page; RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile.

Radar and fire control

IAI identifies the EL/M-2084 multi-mission radar family with David's Sling, and Elbit describes David's Sling fire-control centers as integrated air and missile defense command-and-control systems.

Sources: IAI EL/M-2084 MMR; Elbit Ballistic Missile Defense.

Network position

RTX describes David's Sling as a mid-tier regional missile-defense element in Israel's multi-tier missile-defense architecture.

Source: RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Interceptor
Stunner / SkyCeptor
Role
Medium- to long-range air and missile defense
Targets
Tactical ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets, cruise missiles, enemy aircraft, and drones
System architecture
Launcher, EL/M-2084 radar, battle management/operator station, and Stunner interceptor
Radar
EL/M-2084 multi-mission radar family, described by IAI as an AESA radar used in David's Sling and Iron Dome
Fire control
Elbit describes David's Sling fire-control centers as integrated air and missile defense command-and-control systems
Launcher load
Up to 12 interceptors per launcher
System launcher count
Reported system configuration includes four launcher units
Service entry
Operational with the Israeli Air Force since 2017
Finnish procurement package
Finnish Defence Forces said the selected system includes Stunner interceptors, launchers, datalinks, and sensors, with Israeli, American, and Finnish industrial participation
Variants

David's Sling is the system-level weapon entry; Stunner is the in-service interceptor designation, while SkyCeptor is the Raytheon/RTX-marketed designation associated with the same interceptor family.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air DefenseStunnerDavid's Sling hit-to-kill interceptor

Rafael and CSIS identify Stunner as the interceptor fired by David's Sling launchers.

Sources: Rafael David's Sling page, CSIS David's Sling

SkyCeptorExport/offered interceptor designation

RTX markets David's Sling with the SkyCeptor missile name, tying the designation to the same mid-tier missile-defense family.

Sources: RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile

Launched Interceptors

David's Sling launchers fire Stunner interceptors, also associated with the SkyCeptor export designation.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air DefenseStunner interceptorInterceptor missile

Rafael describes David's Sling as using the Stunner, also called SkyCeptor, and says the launcher carries up to 12 Stunner interceptors launched in a near-vertical orientation. CSIS identifies Stunner as the interceptor for David's Sling.

Sources: Rafael David's Sling page, CSIS David's Sling

Calculator

Ready Interceptor Loadout

Launchers1
Ready interceptors12
Average per launcher12.0
Loadout value$12,000,000
Stunner / SkyCeptor1 launchers100%100%

Cost inputs are editable estimates. The default uses CSIS Missile Threat reporting that each Stunner missile costs an estimated $1 million to produce and that each David's Sling firing unit can hold up to 12 missiles. The launcher-count limit uses Shephard reporting that the system consists of four launcher units.

Timeline

David's Sling air-defense system Key Events

  1. Operational service begins

    The Israeli Air Force said David's Sling became operational in 2017 after being received into service as a new long-range threat layer.

    Sources: IDF David's Sling overview

  2. First operational interception

    Israeli reporting described David's Sling's first operational interception during the May 2023 Gaza escalation, when it engaged rockets fired toward the Tel Aviv area.

    Sources: Times of Israel May 2023 David's Sling report

  3. Finland sale announced

    Israel's Ministry of Defense announced a government-to-government sale of David's Sling to Finland, after U.S. approval for the third-country sale and Finland's selection of the system for long-range, high-altitude air defense.

    Sources: Israel MOD David's Sling Finland sale, Finland MOD David's Sling selection

  4. Lebanon SAM interception

    The IDF said David's Sling intercepted a surface-to-air missile fired toward an Israeli Air Force UAV operating in Lebanon.

    Sources: IDF real-time update February 26, 2024

  5. April Iran attack defense

    Reporting on Iran's April 2024 attack said Israel utilized David's Sling alongside Arrow and Iron Dome in the air-defense response.

    Sources: ABC7 David's Sling and Arrow Iran attack report

  6. Iran missile-war use

    During the June 2025 Israel-Iran war, Israeli reporting described David's Sling being used against Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

    Sources: Times of Israel March 2026 David's Sling Iran report

  7. Future-threat readiness tests

    Israel's Ministry of Defense reported a David's Sling test series by IMDO, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, and Rafael, citing recent combat lessons and scenarios involving rockets, missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and UAVs.

    Sources: Israel MOD David's Sling future-threat tests

Media

David's Sling air-defense system Videos

David's Sling air-defense system Images

David's Sling air-defense system, Air and missile defense system, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0001
David's Sling air-defense system, Air and missile defense system, Air Defense - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons David's Sling Test-5
Related Weapon Systems
Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air DefenseAir DefenseStunner interceptorMissile interceptorThe Stunner interceptor is the two-stage hit-to-kill missile fired by David's Sling, Israel's mid-tier air and missile-defense layer co-developed by Rafael and Raytheon. CSIS describes the missile as using radar datalink updates and onboard terminal seekers, while RTX markets SkyCeptor as a Stunner-family variant for short- to medium-range missile-defense threats. Source-backed operational use is documented in Gaza-related interceptions and the post-October 2023 Israel-Hezbollah fighting.
Iron Dome air-defense system, Mobile short-range air-defense system, Air DefenseAir DefenseIron Dome air-defense systemMobile short-range air-defense systemIron Dome is an Israeli mobile short-range air-defense system built by Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries to detect, track, and intercept rockets, artillery threats, and some UAVs before they hit populated areas. Known in Hebrew as Kippat Barzel, it became operational in 2011 and has documented combat use from the 2012 Gaza-Israel Conflict through later Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran-related fighting, including the April 2024 Iran-Israel exchange.
Python-5 air-to-air missile, Fifth-generation dual-use air-to-air and air-defense missile, MunitionsMunitionsPython-5 air-to-air missileFifth-generation dual-use air-to-air and air-defense missilePython-5 is Rafael's fifth-generation dual-use air-to-air and air-defense missile, built around a dual-waveband imaging infrared seeker, lock-on-before-launch and lock-on-after-launch modes, and a full-sphere launch envelope. Public sources document Israeli F-16 use against Hezbollah UAVs in 2006 and Gaza-launched drones in 2021, while SPYDER batteries use Python-5 as the infrared-imaging interceptor alongside Derby-family radar-guided missiles.

Sources

Rafael David's Sling pagePublisher: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems | Note: Supports David's Sling manufacturer and background as a medium- to long-range air and missile defense system built around the Stunner interceptor. | Accessed: 2026-07-02RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor MissilePublisher: RTX | Note: Supports David's Sling as a mid-tier missile-defense element and supports SkyCeptor missile designation context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02IDF David's Sling overviewPublisher: Israeli Air Force | Note: Supports David's Sling background and service context, including the IAF receiving the system in 2017 and its role against large-caliber rockets and short-range ballistic missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-02CSIS David's SlingPublisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports David's Sling firing-unit loadout of up to 12 Stunner missiles and the estimated Stunner production cost used by the ready-load calculator. | Accessed: 2026-07-02David's Sling completes new test of capabilityPublisher: Shephard Media | Note: Supports the calculator's system-level launcher count, reporting a David's Sling system configuration with four launcher units and 12 vertical launch canisters per missile firing unit. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Times of Israel May 2023 David's Sling reportPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: May 2023 Israel-Gaza Conflict: used by Israel for David's Sling's first operational interception against rockets fired from Gaza toward the Tel Aviv area. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Times of Israel May 12, 2023 Jerusalem interception liveblogPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: May 2023 Israel-Gaza Conflict: used by Israel to intercept one of two rockets fired from Gaza toward the Jerusalem area on May 12, 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Times of Israel October 13, 2023 liveblog entryPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: 2023 Israel-Hamas War: used by Israel to intercept a long-range rocket fired from Gaza on October 13, 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-02JISS Hamas Ayyash 250 David's Sling analysisPublisher: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security | Note: 2023 Israel-Hamas War: identifies the October 13, 2023 rocket intercepted by David's Sling as a Hamas Ayyash 250 fired toward northern Israel. | Accessed: 2026-07-02JPost David's Sling intercepts rocket from LebanonPublisher: The Jerusalem Post | Note: 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: used by Israel to intercept a rocket launched from southern Lebanon on September 25, 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-02IDF real-time update February 26, 2024Publisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: used by Israel to intercept a surface-to-air missile fired toward an Israeli Air Force UAV operating in Lebanon on February 26, 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-02ABC7 David's Sling and Arrow Iran attack reportPublisher: ABC7 San Francisco / ABC News | Note: 2024 Iran-Israel Exchange: reports that David's Sling, Arrow, and Iron Dome were utilized during Iran's April 2024 attack on Israel. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israel MOD David's Sling Finland salePublisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports the November 2023 government-to-government sale of David's Sling to Finland. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Finland MOD David's Sling selectionPublisher: Ministry of Defence, Finland | Note: Supports Finland's April 2023 David's Sling selection for long-range, high-altitude air defense and procurement-package context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Finnish Defence Forces David's Sling packagePublisher: Finnish Defence Forces | Note: Supports Finnish package context including Stunner interceptors, launchers, datalinks, sensors, NATO compatibility, and Israeli, American, and Finnish industrial participation. | Accessed: 2026-07-02IAI EL/M-2084 MMRPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports EL/M-2084 multi-mission radar family context for David's Sling and radar-role specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Elbit Ballistic Missile DefensePublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports David's Sling fire-control center developer and command-and-control function context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israel MOD David's Sling future-threat testsPublisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports the February 2026 future-threat readiness test series and component attribution for Rafael, ELTA/IAI, and Elbit roles. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Times of Israel March 2026 David's Sling Iran reportPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict: used by Israel to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles during the June 2025 war. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0016Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for David-Sling-0016.jpg, an IDF Spokesperson's Unit release showing a David's Sling interceptor launch during Operation Swords of Iron with CC BY-SA 3.0 and VRT permission context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0001Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for David-Sling-0001.jpg, a U.S. Missile Defense Agency public-domain test-launch image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons David's Sling Test-5Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the David's Sling Test-5 public-domain test image from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. | Accessed: 2026-07-02