Barak-8

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), on August 15, informed entering into an agreement with Israel Navy to supply Indo-Israel Barak-8 surface to air missile for its Sa'ar-6 corvettes. "The Barak-8 system was chosen after it was demonstrated to meet the operational requirements and future challenges faced by the Navy," company said in a statement.

The Barak-8, developed jointly by IAI and Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for both the navies, is a Long Range Surface to Air Missile which detect target at 100 Km range and can engage them at 70 km range.

Speaking on the agreement, Joseph Weiss, IAI CEO & President, said, "Barak-8 is one of IAI's leading systems and a growth engine for IAI in sales to its customers. The new deal adds to several Barak-8 contracts entered over the past few years with total value of more than $5 billion, which is another feather in the system's glorious cap."

Reacting to the development, Boaz Levi, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Systems, Missiles and Space Group, said, "The procurement of Barak-8 System for the Sa'ar-6 corvettes will expand the operational capabilities of the Israeli navy, including the defense of Israel's territorial and exclusive economic zone. With land and naval modules, the system provides a complete response to a wide range of threats and is developed to work with other systems. Barak-8 is a proud member of the exclusive club that hosts Israel's most successful global military developments."

"The systems will be used to protect Israel's exclusive economic zone and strategic facilities which are faced with diversified threats in the marine arena. The contract was led by the navy, Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) and the procurement administration in Israel's Ministry of Defense," IAI added.

Used in naval point and area defense, Barak-8 is all weather missile system which can engage sea skimming to high altitude targets using its "several advanced state-of-the-art systems (such) as, digital radar, command and control, launchers, interceptors with modern RF seekers, Data link and system-wide connectivity."

On May 21, 2017, IAI announced award of a "$630 million- contract for supply of LRSAM air and missile defense systems for four ships of the Indian Navy." First Indian Navy contract for this system was signed in April 2009 for $1.1 billion.

India is also procuring the land version of Barak-8 under its Medium-Range SAM programme for over $1.6 billion. This is expected to arm five air defence regiments of Indian Army. The contract was signed in April 2017.