The Rafael company revealed earlier this week that it is developing an interceptor that will respond to the threat of hypersonic missiles, and it will be called "sharp sling". The interceptor, according to Rafael, has the ability to maneuver at high speed towards the hypersonic missiles, which fly at 5 times the speed of sound and have great maneuverability.
Rafael is expected to reveal the interceptor for the first time at the Paris Air Show exhibition that will open next week. The disclosure of Rafael's development comes against the backdrop of Iran's announcement that it has developed a hypersonic missile that can move at tremendous speed and evade air defense systems. The new Iranian missile, known as "Fatah", according to Tehran, is capable of moving at a speed 14 times higher than the speed of sound, or about 15,000 km/h, and has a flight range of 1,400 km. However, Iran presented no evidence for her claims.
Israel's Rafael shows off home-grown hypersonic missile interceptor https://t.co/JDUuJ6dYkk
— 🇺🇦Evan Kirstel #B2B #TechFluencer (@EvanKirstel) June 18, 2023
In a report on state television in Iran, it is claimed that the missile is capable of "eluding" anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the "Zionist regime". The Israeli "Iron Dome" system was specifically mentioned in the report, and it was claimed that it too would not be able to stop the new missile. It should be emphasized that the "Iron Dome" is not at all designed to intercept long-range missiles, and for this purpose Israel has developed other systems, such as "David's Slingshot" and "Arrow" and as mentioned, now the "Sharp Sling" has also been revealed.
Yuval Steinitz, Rafael's chairman, said that "Rafael is growing significantly and generating interest in the international arena with proven operational capabilities and a geopolitical reality that generates many opportunities. We follow the developments and threats in the global arena and, as in the past, anticipate and develop the most advanced defense systems. The ‘Sharp Sling’ project is an innovative development of its kind for the hypersonic weapon threat."
Israel's Rafael shows off home-grown hypersonic missile interceptor https://t.co/JDUuJ6dYkk
— 🇺🇦Evan Kirstel #B2B #TechFluencer (@EvanKirstel) June 18, 2023
Hypersonic missiles are missiles of the type that are capable of moving at least five times the speed of sound, a tremendous speed which, together with advanced navigational capabilities, should make it very difficult to intercept the missiles. Russia already claimed at the end of the last decade that it had developed apparently "unstoppable" hypersonic missiles, and it made operational use of them for the first time in the war in Ukraine. Although last month Kyiv claimed that it shot down several of these Russian missiles.
