JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON ¨C A new Israeli air defense system being developed in partnership with the United States met all its objectives in a series of recent live interception tests, U.S. and Israeli officials said Wednesday, putting it on course for deployment by next year.
The system, David¡¯s Sling, shot down targets simulating longer-range missiles like Scuds that could be fired at Israel from Syria and by Lebanon¡¯s Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas.
Defense sources said the more recent tests took place last week and on Tuesday. The latter coincided with international negotiations on Iran¡¯s disputed nuclear program that have drawn censure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in turn soured his relations with U.S. President Barack Obama.
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