European countries are showing growing interest in the Israeli-made David’s Sling missile defense system, a senior Israeli official told Business Insider. The continent is racing to bolster its air defenses in preparation for a possible war with Russia.

About a dozen European countries have shown interest in purchasing David’s Sling over the past year, Moshe Patel, director and general manager of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, said in an interview this week.

Finland is so far the only country that has signed an agreement for the defensive system; However, Patel, who oversees Israeli air defense development, said he expects a second European nation to sign a contract “very soon,” with more deals likely to follow. He declined to identify the countries.

The growing interest in David’s Sling reflects a broader trend across Europe, where countries are increasingly prioritizing the acquisition of high-end interceptors and air defense systems following the depletion of these critical capabilities.

Years of Russian attacks on Ukraine and Iranian missile strikes across the Middle East have been a wake-up call for the continent. Patel has previously identified these developments as drivers of European interest in additional air defenses.

David’s Sling is a surface-to-air missile system jointly developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and American defense giant Raytheon. It became operational in 2017 and is designed to attack drones, rockets, missiles and aircraft at ranges up to 190 miles using a million-dollar interceptor called Stunner.

Israel has used David’s Sling extensively over the past three years, during which it has defended missile attacks from Iran and its allies, including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel has a multi-layered air defense network, and David’s Sling is considered the middle level: above the well-known Iron Dome and below the Arrow system, which can intercept targets in space.

Growing interest in David’s Sling followed growing recognition of the system’s combat potential, Patel said, adding that “many nations, specifically from Europe,” have reached out to Israel. Because it was jointly developed with the United States, Washington has to approve any potential exports, but discussions are ongoing.

Patel described David’s Sing as “the most attractive system in our marketing architecture,” even more so than the Arrow system, which Israel sold to Germany. He said it is more affordable than other air defenses and remarkably versatile: It can deal with many different threats while protecting a large area.

A spokesman for Israel’s Defense Ministry described the arms sale as a cornerstone of its strategy, aimed at stimulating the buildup of military forces, boosting the country’s economy and shaping its foreign policy.

“This effort constitutes an additional pillar of the ministry’s strategy to prepare for the demanding decade ahead on the security front,” while preserving the Israeli military’s advantage, the spokesperson told Business Insider.

European interest in David’s Sling comes as the continent explores possible alternatives to American-made air defenses, specifically the Patriot MIM-104 surface-to-air missile system, which Ukraine, the United States and the Gulf States have used to counter Russian and Iranian ballistic missiles.

Global stocks of Patriot interceptors were already under great pressure, but these munitions are in extremely high demand: their value has been repeatedly demonstrated in Europe and the Middle East.

David’s Sling, often described as a system comparable to the Patriot, could be an alternative for countries that want the US system but are stuck in a backlog.

Switzerland, for example, suffered delays with Patriot orders due to the war in Ukraine and is now exploring other options, including from Israel, for its air defense needs.

Production of Patriot interceptors has long struggled to keep pace with growing demand, but the US defense industry has signaled its intention to increase production to replenish reserves depleted in conflicts abroad.

Israel has also learned lessons from these struggles. Several rounds of fighting with Iran have convinced the country that it must speed up production lines for its air defenses, including David’s Sling interceptors, Patel said.

Israel, he said, is making “enormous efforts to be prepared for the future.”