David ' s Sling David ' s Sling ( ) , also sometimes called Magic Wand ( ) , is an Israel Defense Forces military system being jointly developed by the Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American defense contractor Raytheon , designed to intercept medium - to long - range rocket s and cruise missiles , fired at ranges from 40 km to 300 km . David ' s Sling is meant to replace the MIM - 23 Hawk and MIM - 104 Patriot in the Israeli arsenal . It is designed to intercept the newest generation of tactical ballistic missiles , such as Iskander , using an on - board dual CCD / IIR seekers to distinguish between decoys and the actual warhead of the missile , in addition to tracking by Elta multi - mode radar . The multi - stage interceptor consists of a solid - fuel , rocket motor booster , followed by an asymmetrical kill vehicle with advanced steering for super - maneuverability during the kill - stage . A three - pulse motor provides additional acceleration and maneuverability during the terminal phase . Development . The interceptor is a two - stage missile , with two targeting and guidance systems installed in its nose - tip ( a radar and an electro - optical sensor ) . In 2006 Rafael was awarded a contract to develop a defense system to counter the threat of medium - to long - range rockets with ranges between 70 km and 250 km . In order to enable Israel to make use of the financial aid provided by the United States to further develop the system and to produce it , a partnership was established with Raytheon which will develop the missile firing unit and overall logistic system and assist Rafael with developing the interceptor . In some of Raytheon ' s publications , the interceptor is referred to as " Stunner . " As of November 2012 , David ' s Sling was expected to enter operational service in 2013 or 2014 . It has been suggested that David ' s Sling missiles , modified with boosters to increase launch speed and different seekers , could be mounted on SPYDER anti - aircraft vehicles , giving them the capability to be mobile long - range rocket interceptors . The increasing danger of rocket and missile fire against Israel ( Qassam rocket fire from Gaza , Katyusha rocket fire from southern Lebanon , and Iran ' s ballistic missile arsenal ) has led to the development of defense systems to counter this threat . In addition to the David ' s Sling system , which is designed to intercept medium - and long - range rockets , the Iron Dome system , a separate system with which it will be used in conjunction , designed to intercept short - range rockets ( 4 – 70 km ) , and the Arrow missile , a separate system designed to intercept ballistic missile s , are already in use . On 25 November 2012 , Israel successfully tested the Stunner interceptor missile . The David ' s Sling battery , stationed at an undisclosed desert location in Southern Israel , fired and destroyed the incoming missile with a two - stage interceptor . Foreign interest . On 17 November 2010 , in an interview Rafael ' s Vice President Mr . Lova Drori confirmed that the David ' s Sling system has been offered to the Indian Armed Forces . PAAC - 4 . According to Lieutenant General Henry Obering , former director of the U . S . Missile Defense Agency , " We wanted a truly co - managed program because the United States will be very interested in this for our own purposes . " In July 2013 , Raytheon revealed it was working with international partners to develop a new air - defense missile system . The system is based on the AN / MPQ - 53 radar from the MIM - 104 Patriot , a Kongsberg / Raytheon Fire Direction Center , and the Rafael Stunner surface - to - air missile . In August 2013 , Raytheon and Rafael began to seek funding for a fourth - generation Patriot intercepting system , called the Patriot Advanced Affordable Capability - 4 ( PAAC - 4 ) . The system aims to integrate the Stunner interceptor from the jointly - funded David ' s Sling program with Patriot PAC - 3 radars , launchers , and engagement control stations . The two - stage , multimode seeking Stunner would replace single - stage , radar - guided PAC - 3 missiles produced by Lockheed Martin . Government and industry sources claim the Stunner - based PAAC - 4 interceptors will offer improved operational performance at 20 percent of the $ 2 million unit cost of the Lockheed - built PAC - 3 missiles . The companies are seeking $ 20 million in U . S . government funding to demonstrate cost and performance claims through a prototype PAAC - 4 system . Israeli program officials have said that a previous teaming agreement between Raytheon and Rafael would allow the U . S . company to assume prime contractor status , and produce at least 60 percent of the Stunner missile in the United States . The Missile Defense Agency has said that the U . S . Army is considering use of the Stunner as a potential solution to future U . S . military requirements .