|
JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel's David's Sling anti-missile array will be fully operational within two weeks, concluding the country's multi-tier air defense system, a senior air force officer said on Monday.
David's Sling Weapon System is designed to intercept short and mid-range rockets from the Gaza Strip and the Hezbollah-dominated southern Lebanon.
Tzvika Haimovitch, head of the army's Aerial Defense Command, told local media that the system is the final piece in the Jewish state's anti-missile system.
The new system would close the gap between the short-range Iron Dome and long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 anti-missiles systems, he said.
"I am sure it will enhance our ability to deal with threats," Haimovitch said, but added that even with the new system Israel is still "vulnerable," the Times of Israel newspaper reported.
The David's Sling gives the Israel Defense Forces "more capabilities and more effectiveness," he said.
"But it's never enough. It's not hermetic," he added.
The system, jointly developed by Israel and the U.S.-based Raytheon Co., passed its fifth and final testing on January 25.
In the test, "threat-representative targets were launched and successfully intercepted by Stunner missiles," according to a statement released by the Defense Ministry.
"The interceptors were successfully launched, performed all flight phases and engaged the targets," the statement read, adding that preliminary analysis indicates that test objectives were "successfully achieved."
Also on Monday, the military said Arrow-2 was used to destroy a "ballistic missile" launched from Syria. The missile carried some 200 kg of explosives and was used to hit the Jordan Valley, a military official said.
Syria's army launched the anti-aircraft missile after Israeli fighter jets reportedly struck posts in Syria.
