On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D, also known as MAFAT) within the Israeli Ministry of Defense, together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, successfully completed a series of tests of the upgraded and advanced David’s Sling air and missile defense system, designed to intercept a range of threats, including ballistic missiles, rockets, cruise missiles, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Photos: Israeli Ministry of Defense
The series of tests was based on operational experience gained during recent combat operations and included a wide range of demanding scenarios simulating both current and emerging threats. The successful completion of these tests marks another significant step forward in the system’s modernization under the Future Threat Readiness Upgrade package, following its documented high operational effectiveness during the war, including successful interceptions that saved lives and prevented significant damage.
David’s Sling forms the middle layer of Israel’s multi-tiered air and missile defense architecture, alongside the Arrow 2 / Arrow 3 missile defense system, the Iron Dome system, and the Iron Beam laser system, which was recently delivered to the Israeli Air Force (Heyl HaAvir). The system is developed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, through IMDO under DDR&D, in cooperation with the defense industry and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the prime contractor for the David’s Sling air and missile defense system. The EL/M-2084 MMR radar was developed by Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), while the Golden Almond battle management system was developed by Elbit Systems. The initial version of the system was created in cooperation with the U.S. company Raytheon (now part of RTX).
The Stunner missile interceptors engage targets at speeds of up to Mach 7.5. Unlike the Tamir missile missile used by the Iron Dome system, Stunner does not carry a warhead (hit-to-kill). It is also a two-stage, highly maneuverable missile equipped with infrared sensors and a CCD television camera.
The combat debut of the David’s Sling system, operated by the Israeli Air Force (Heyl HaAvir), took place on June 23, 2018, when two Stunner missile interceptors were launched to engage two Syrian OTR-21 Tochka short-range ballistic missiles.
IMDO Director, Moshe Patel:
“During the war, and particularly during Operation Rising Lion, IMDO personnel implemented real-time modifications and adaptations that dramatically enhanced the capabilities of the IAF air & missile defense systems, with David’s Sling in particular. As part of our planned development programs, we conducted an extensive test series to assess future capabilities and the ability to contend with multiple, diverse threats. The series concluded with complete success, enabling a significant upgrade to the State of Israel’s air and missile defense architecture.”
CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Yoav Tourgeman:
“Against the backdrop of ever-evolving threats, Rafael is proud to successfully conclude the advanced test series of the David’s Sling system, which incorporated new capabilities across a wide range of challenging scenarios. The system undergoes continuous upgrades and adaptations, and the current test series once again demonstrates that David’s Sling is one of the world’s leading air defense systems. I would like to thank the employees of Rafael for their ongoing dedication to the security of the State of Israel, which is especially evident in this project, and to our partners at the IMDO, the U.S. MDA, and the IAF for their role in this success.”
Outside Israel, Finland decided to procure the David’s Sling system in November 2023.
David's Sling Weapon System Successfully Completes Complex Test Series as Part of Future Threat Readiness Upgrade
Read More: https://t.co/LHD2vuOAlt pic.twitter.com/azwbKAMbZT
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) February 11, 2026
David’s Sling successfully completes a complex test series as part of its future threat readiness upgrade.
Led by the Israel Ministry of Defense’s IMDO, together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Rafael, the campaign simulated advanced scenarios against rockets, ballistic… pic.twitter.com/Bk9voXGOig— Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) February 11, 2026
