The Israel Air Force's Air Defense Command has launched the first training course for soldiers who will be operating the new David's Sling anti-missile interception system. Training will be led by the Defense Ministry's Homa Directorate, which oversees the missile defense program, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense's Missile Defense Agency and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the lead contractor for the project. The training course will span six months, during which the soldiers will learn how to operate the system. David's Sling is designed to intercept medium- to long-range missiles, fired at ranges of 40 to 300 kilometers (25 to 186 miles). Once operational, it is expected to be an important tool in protecting Israel against Hezbollah. Together with the Iron Dome and Arrow defense systems, David's Sling is part of Israel's multi-tier missile defense program. Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometers (2 to 43 miles), while the Arrow series is comprised of long-range missile interceptors. The defense establishment hopes that David's Sling will be delivered to the IAF in early 2016. However, the system has yet to be declared operational, and is slated to undergo further testing. Speaking at the training course's induction, Yair Ramati, head of the Homa Directorate, said: "The vision outlined a decade ago is becoming a reality. We are leaving the best technology in the hands of the Air Defense Command's fighters."
The head of the project at Rafael, Shlomo S., added that "the opening of the training course is another significant benchmark on the path to making the system operational."
