For the first time, Israel’s David’s Sling missile defense system was put into operational use on Monday morning, in response to the detection of 9k79 missiles fired in southern Syria. The David’s Sling failed to intercept either missile.
The 9k79 missiles, the Russian Tochka short-range ballistic missile, were fired against targets in ISIS-held territory in southwestern Syria. Israeli Army officials mistakenly thought that the missiles were going to land in Israeli-occupied territory.
Israeli officials defended the use of the David’s Sling, even though the missiles weren’t actually going to land in Israel, as an attempt to “minimize risk,” saying that the missiles carry substantial explosive payloads and it was better not to risk them hitting.
This has been a recurring problem for nations with substantial investments in interceptor missiles. The costly missiles have tended to perform poorly in even the most favorable tests, and using them against perceived threats, as today, risks very public failures, which is exactly what happened.
Israel not only spent massive amounts developing the failed missile system, but got Congress to chip in hundreds of millions of dollars as well. The US had been claimed to be interested in buying such missiles from Israel, though it’s not clear if that’s still the case at this point.
If the US buys those missiles, it will be as a subsidy to Israel. That is likely.
A fairly standard and routine occurence.
Israel tried to defend ISIS terrorists, but was unsuccessful? And the lead story is that their interceptor technology is flawed, not that they were trying to defend ISIS..?
Thry already saved several hundred White Helmets and transfered them to Jordan. Jordan is playing with fire. While ISIS devastated and starved Palestinians in Yarmouk refugee camp prior to bring liberated by Syrian Army, White Helmets staged their “rescue” videos portraying all brands of terrorists as “defenders”. And now, Jordan that has over 50% Palestinian population — has the nerve to cooperate with Israel to rescue them!
“Israeli Army officials mistakenly thought that the missiles were going to land in Israeli-occupied territory.”
Sure they did…
No amount of intercept can protect a country from the showering from thousands of smaller arrows when all hell breaks loose.