The Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) Air Defense Division has established a founding team, marking the start of the absorption process of the David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS) also known as ‘Magic Wand’.
The Magic Wand founding team includes combat soldiers familiar with the different weapon systems of the division such as iron dome, patriot and arrow.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, along with Raytheon, is in charge of the development of Magic Wand missile defence system in Israel. The conversion process will also be led by the company.
Founding team commander major Gilad Malka said: "The team members will study the usage methods of the advance weapon. The conversion has officially started."
The DSWS is a surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept medium-to-long-range rockets and cruise missiles, fired at ranges from 40km to 300km.
The system is developed to work alongside the Iron Dome, Patriot and Arrow missile systems as the future of Israel’s aerial defence formation.
Commenting on the new development, IAF Air Defense Division commander brigadier general Shachar Shochat said: "This is without a doubt a historic day.
"The system takes off with the best of our people. The hourglass is running."
DSWS has its own interception management centre, where the operators would launch orders on future interceptions of aerial threats.
Moreover, the missiles can broadcast real-time sensory information and it is also expected to be linked up to the Home Front Command’s command and control systems, which provide civilian projectile alerts and information to air defence systems.
In April, the system completed its operational testing and is expected to enter operational service as early as next year.
Image: The Magic Wand is a surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept medium-to-long-range rockets and cruise missiles. Photo: courtesy of IAF.
