Israel tests upgraded David’s Sling air defense system on naval vessel for first time.

Israel's February 2026 upgrade trials included the first known shipboard deployment of the David’s Sling air and missile defense system, previously fielded only in ground-based configurations.

On February 11, 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the David’s Sling air and missile defense system completed a complex series of interception tests as part of a future threat readiness upgrade, which included the first known deployment on a naval vessel of the system. The test formed part of a wider readiness upgrade program led by the Israeli Missile Defense Organization with U.S. participation. Before the February 2026 trials, the David's Sling has operated exclusively as a ground-based interceptor since becoming operational in 2017.
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The David's Sling interceptor, named Stunner, is a two-stage solid propellant missile that has an operational range of 70 to 300 km, a maximum speed of Mach 7.5, equivalent to 2.55 km/s, and an engagement ceiling between 50 and 75 km. (Picture source: Israeli MoD)

These tests, conducted by the Israeli Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, assessed the David’s Sling's ability to intercept rockets, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and UAVs at medium to long ranges. The latest trials were structured around operational lessons learned during recent combat, including the October 7 war and Operation Rising Lion. The ministry further stated that the test scenarios replicated both existing and emerging threats and included engagements against multiple and diverse targets. Part of the series involved maritime configurations in which a David’s Sling launcher was positioned on a naval vessel to conduct interceptions. The ministry stated that the series concluded successfully and enables a significant upgrade to Israel’s multi-layered air and missile defense architecture.

The February 2026 trials followed an earlier upgrade cycle completed in August 2025 after wartime interceptions during the October 7 war. Both upgrade cycles were structured around combat experience and evaluated the David’s Sling performance against rockets, missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and UAVs under challenging operational conditions. During the war and Operation Rising Lion, IMDO personnel implemented real-time modifications and adaptations that enhanced the performance of Israeli Air Force air and missile defense units, with David’s Sling as a central component. The 2026 series assessed future capabilities and the capacity to contend simultaneously with multiple, diverse threats, expanding the operational envelope of the surface-to-air missile system. The ministry stated that these upgrades translate into strengthened readiness across the broader defensive array and form part of planned development programs rather than a single isolated improvement cycle.

The David’s Sling functions as a central defensive layer within Israel’s multi-layered missile defense architecture, operating between short-range interceptors and exo-atmospheric systems. It operates alongside the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 exoatmospheric anti-ballistic missiles, the Iron Dome short-range interceptor, and the Iron Beam laser system that was recently delivered to the Israeli Air Force. In summer 2024, the David’s Sling replaced the MIM-104 Patriot/PAC-2 Yahalom in Israeli service, with economic considerations cited as a primary factor. A David’s Sling battery providing nationwide coverage costs roughly one-third of a new Patriot battery, and the interceptor unit cost stands at $700,000 compared to $6 million for a PAC-3 Patriot interceptor. The system is operated by Battalion 66 of the Israeli Air Defense Array and became operational in April 2017, activating the final tier of Israel’s layered anti-missile defense at that time.

The David’s Sling, known in Hebrew as Kela David and formerly called Magic Wand, was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as the primary contractor and Raytheon as a U.S. partner under the leadership of the Israel Ministry of Defense through IMDO. Development efforts began in 2006 with a focus on countering medium to long-range rockets between 40 km and 300 km, and the partnership structure enabled the use of U.S. financial assistance for development and production. The United States has contributed $1.39 billion to the program, and one tranche of funding included $183 million allocated for upgrades such as extending the system’s range, improving seeker capabilities, and enhancing cruise missile defense performance.

The David's Sling interceptor, named Stunner, is a two-stage solid propellant missile that employs a kinetic hit-to-kill mechanism rather than a proximity/fragmentation warhead. It has an operational range of 70 to 300 km, a maximum speed of Mach 7.5, equivalent to 2.55 km/s, and an engagement ceiling between 50 and 75 km. Guidance combines an active electronically scanned array multi-mission radar, specifically the EL/M-2084 developed by Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), with dual electro-optical seekers combining imaging infrared sensors and a charge-coupled device (CCD), a type of electronic image sensor that allows the missile to capture high-resolution visual images of the target during flight. The Stunner interceptor also integrates an asymmetric 360-degree multi-seeker assembly, a three-way datalink enabling automatic and manual retargeting, as well as electronic and infrared counter-countermeasures.

Operational use began in July 2018 when two Stunner interceptors were launched against Syrian OTR-21 Tochka ballistic missiles after trajectory calculations indicated a potential impact in Israeli territory. The Syrian missiles ultimately landed inside Syria; one interceptor self-destructed, and the other fell in Syria and was later reportedly transferred to Russia for examination. On May 10, 2023, David’s Sling achieved its first confirmed successful operational interception against a Badr-3 rocket aimed at Tel Aviv, followed by additional interceptions, including long-range rockets such as the Ayyash-250 and ballistic missiles, including the Qadr-1, during the October 2024 conflict. In June 2025, the David's Sling shot down a ballistic missile for the first time during the Iran-Israel war, and in February 2026, it intercepted a surface-to-air missile fired toward an Israeli UAV operating over Lebanon.

Foreign interest has expanded, with Finland selecting David’s Sling in April 2023 for a €316 million procurement covering interceptors, launchers, and radars, and including a minimum flight altitude requirement of 15,000 meters. The Finnish agreement includes a main contract valued at €213 million, immediate options worth €103 million, and additional options totaling €216 million, alongside a separate ministry-to-ministry arrangement to ensure security of supply for critical components. The Finnish configuration will be manufactured and integrated through cooperation among Israeli, American, and Finnish contractors led by Rafael and Raytheon, pending U.S. sales release approval. Expressions of interest have also emerged from India, Gulf Cooperation Council members, Switzerland, Australia, and Estonia.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.