Air Defense

Stunner interceptor

Also known as
  • Stunner
  • David's Sling interceptor
  • David's Sling Stunner
  • Magic Wand interceptor

The 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.

Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air Defense
Image source: Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0016

Role in Conflicts

2023 Israel-Hamas War
Air Defense
Side
Israel

Used by Israel in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War when David's Sling intercepted a long-range rocket fired from Gaza on October 13, 2023; OSMP also documents recovered Stunner remnants in the Palestinian territories during the same war period.

Role details
2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Air Defense
Side
Israel

Used by Israel in the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict when David's Sling intercepted a rocket launched from southern Lebanon over central Israel on September 25, 2024, with OSMP also documenting Stunner remnants in Lebanon.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel and United States
Type
Missile interceptor
Service note
2017-present
Designer
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon
Designed
2000s
Unit cost
Estimated $1 million production cost
Produced
2010s-present
Number built
Not publicly disclosed

Specifications

Role
Medium- to long-range air and missile defense interceptor
Length
4.6 m
Engagement range
40 to 300 km, reported by CSIS for David's Sling engagements
Engagement altitude
Up to 15 km, reported by CSIS
Guidance
Midcourse datalink updates with terminal radar and electro-optical/imaging infrared seekers
Propulsion
Two-stage, multi-pulse solid rocket propulsion
Kill mechanism
Hit-to-kill impact interceptor without a blast warhead
Launcher load
Up to 12 Stunner missiles per David's Sling firing unit
Targets
Tactical ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets, cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones
Interceptor Architecture

Stunner is documented as a missile component inside David's Sling: the launcher fires the interceptor, the ground radar provides midcourse updates, and the missile's own seekers close the terminal engagement.

FeatureCatalog contextSources
Terminal seekersCSIS describes a radar seeker and electro-optical/imaging infrared seeker used for terminal guidance.CSIS David's Sling
No explosive warheadCSIS and RTX describe Stunner as a hit-to-kill interceptor that defeats threats by direct impact.CSIS David's Sling; RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile
Launcher dependencyThe David's Sling firing unit carries up to 12 Stunner missiles and provides the launch platform for operational use.CSIS David's Sling
Export designationRTX identifies SkyCeptor as a variant of the Stunner hit-to-kill missile for short- to medium-range missile-defense threats.RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile
Variants

Stunner is the in-service David's Sling interceptor designation. SkyCeptor is the RTX/Raytheon-marketed variant name tied to the same hit-to-kill interceptor family.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
SkyCeptorExport and offered interceptor designation

RTX describes SkyCeptor as a variant of the Stunner hit-to-kill missile developed for short- to medium-range ballistic and cruise-missile defense threats.

Sources: RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile

Launch Platform

Stunner is the missile component of David's Sling rather than a standalone firing system; launch, radar cueing, and battle-management context come from the parent weapon system.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
David's Sling air-defense system, Air and missile defense system, Air DefenseDavid's Sling air-defense systemAir and missile defense system

CSIS identifies Stunner as the interceptor for David's Sling and describes the trailer-mounted firing unit as carrying up to 12 Stunner missiles; RTX describes the same system as Israel's mid-tier missile-defense layer built around the Stunner/SkyCeptor family.

Sources: CSIS David's Sling, RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile

Why the component matters

Operational conflict rows are tied to David's Sling launches, but the missile expended in those engagements is the Stunner interceptor carried by the launcher.

Sources: CSIS David's Sling, OSMP Stunner

Timeline

Stunner interceptor Key Events

  1. David's Sling development starts

    CSIS places the start of Israeli development work on David's Sling in 2006, with later U.S. partnership and Raytheon work on the Stunner interceptor and launcher.

    Sources: CSIS David's Sling

  2. First Stunner intercept test image released

    The U.S. Missile Defense Agency released imagery from a David's Sling flight test showing a Stunner interceptor engaging a target.

    Sources: Wikimedia Commons Stunner inaugural flight test

  3. Operational service

    RTX describes David's Sling as fully operational in 2017, placing Stunner in Israel's operational mid-tier missile-defense architecture.

    Sources: RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile

  4. First operational interception

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

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

  5. Lebanon rocket interception

    The Jerusalem Post reported Israeli use of David's Sling to intercept a rocket launched from southern Lebanon over central Israel.

    Sources: JPost David's Sling intercepts rocket from Lebanon

Media

Stunner interceptor Videos

Stunner interceptor Images

Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0001
Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air Defense - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons Stunner inaugural flight test
Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air Defense - view 3
Source: Wikimedia Commons Stunner 2015 test series
Related Weapon Systems
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

RTX David's Sling System and SkyCeptor MissilePublisher: RTX | Note: Supports manufacturer, background, SkyCeptor designation, operational-service, and system-specification context for David's Sling and the Stunner/SkyCeptor interceptor family. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Rafael David's SlingPublisher: Rafael | Note: Supports manufacturer, background, and system-specification context for DAVID's SLING and its Stunner interceptor. | Accessed: 2026-06-20CSIS David's SlingPublisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports Stunner dimensions, seeker/guidance context, launch-unit loadout, estimated production cost, development history, and the launch-platform relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-01OSMP StunnerPublisher: Open Source Munitions Portal | Note: Supports Stunner background and direct conflict-use context: OSMP documents Stunner components recovered in the Palestinian territories during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War period and in Lebanon during the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Times 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: 2026-07-01Times 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: 2026-07-01JPost 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 over central Israel on September 25, 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Wikimedia 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. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Wikimedia Commons David-Sling-0001Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Missile Defense Agency image page for a David's Sling Stunner launch photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Wikimedia Commons Stunner inaugural flight testPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Missile Defense Agency image page for a Stunner intercept test image from the David's Sling program. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Wikimedia Commons Stunner 2015 test seriesPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Missile Defense Agency image page for a David's Sling Stunner test-series photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-01