Barak 8
Barak 8 also known as LR-SAM or as MR-SAM is an Indo-Israeli surface-to-air missile, designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and combat jets. Both maritime and land-based variants of the system exist.
Barak 8 was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, India's Defence Research & Development Organisation, Israel's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Systems, Rafael and other companies. Bharat Dynamics Limited produces the missiles.
Background
Barak 8 is loosely based on the original Barak 1 missile and is expected to feature a more advanced seeker, alongside range extensions that will move it closer to medium range naval systems like the RIM-162 ESSM or even the SM-2 Standard. Israel successfully tested the improved Barak II missile on July 30, 2009. The radar system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an incoming missile as close as 500 meters away from the ship. Each Barak system costs about $24 million. In November 2009 Israel signed a $1.1 billion contract to supply an upgraded tactical Barak 8 air defence system to India. In May 2017, India placed an order of $630 million for four ships of the Indian Navy. In September 2018, MDL and GRSE awarded Bharat Electronics Limited with a $1.28 billion contract to supply seven Barak-8 air defence systems for Project 17A-class frigates. In October 2018, Bharat Electronics Limited signed a $777 million deal with Israel Aerospace Industries to help fulfil the Barak-8 order.Design
The Barak 8 has a length of about 4.5 meters, a diameter of 0.225 meters at missile body, and 0.54 meters at the booster stage, a wingspan of 0.94 meters and weighs 275 kg including a 60 kg warhead which detonates at proximity. The missile has maximum speed of Mach 2 with a maximum operational range of 70 km, which was later increased to 100 km. Barak 8 features a dual pulse rocket motor as well as Thrust vector control, and possesses high degrees of maneuverability at target interception range. A second motor is fired during the terminal phase, at which stage the active radar seeker is activated to home in on to the enemy track. Barak 8 has been designed to counter a wide variety of air-borne threats, such as; anti-ship missiles, aircraft, UAVs drones and supersonic missiles When coupled with a modern air-defence system and multi-function surveillance track and guidance radars, Barak 8 enables the capability to simultaneously engage multiple targets during saturation attacks.Israel Aerospace Industries describe Barak 8 as "an advanced, long-range missile defense and air defense system" with its main features being:
- Long Range
- Two way data link
- Active Radar Seeker Missile
- 360 degree coverage
- Smokeless propulsion
- Thrust vector control
- Dual pulse propulsion
- Vertical Launch
- Multiple Simultaneous Engagements
- Point defence anti-ballistic missile
MRSAM
The Indian Army ordered five regiments of this version, which consists of about 40 launchers and 200 missiles for. It is expected to be deployed by 2023 with first deliveries commencing in 2020.
LRSAM (Barak-8ER)
An ER variant of the Barak 8 is under development, which will see the missiles maximum range increased to 150 km. Designed to engage multiple beyond visual range threats, the low launch signature Barak-8ER is understood to retain the same autopilot/inertial navigation system and active radar seeker guidance as the Barak-8, although some modifications to the software and to the missile control surfaces are likely. The booster increases the length of the missile at launch from its current 4.5 m to nearly 6 m, although the length in flight after the booster has been jettisoned may be slightly less than the base Barak-8 missile, if a TVC is not present. The missile diameter and fin spans are thought to be the same as the base Barak-8. The booster weight is currently unknown, although the missile's weight after the booster has been jettisoned is the same as that for the current Barak-8 configuration.Levy said that initial operational capability for Barak-8ER will first be declared for the naval variant, followed by IOC for the land variant. He declined to comment on a launch customer for Barak-8ER, but noted "existing Barak-8 customers will be interested in this configuration because it offers additional capability to their current system". The missile is expected to equip the Indian Navy's future Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.
Flight tests
- In May 2010, the Barak-II missile was successfully test fired at an electronic target and met its initial objectives. The second test of the missile was to be held in India later in 2010. "More than 70 per cent of the content in the missile being developed with Israel would be indigenous." DRDO chief V. K. Saraswat told The Economic Times.
- On 10 November 2014 the Barak 8 was successfully test fired in Israel with all integrated operational components for both the marine & land system.
- On 26 November 2015, a successful test was conducted on a drone target.
- On 29 December 2015 and 30 December 2015 the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the Barak 8 missile from INS Kolkata. Two missiles were fired at high speed targets, during naval exercises being undertaken in the Arabian Sea.
- On 30 June 2016, India test-fired a land based version of the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile for the first time from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, successfully hitting the target pilotless target aircraft at 8:15 AM IST. the missile was again test fired for second time around noon where it again successfully hit a pilotless target aircraft over the Bay of Bengal. The test-firing of the missile was jointly carried out by Indian defence personnel, DRDO and IAI.
- On 1 July 2016 the MR SAM was tested for the third time from the ITR at Chandipur, at 10:26 AM IST and the missile successfully hit a pilotless target aircraft, proving its reliability.
- On 20 September 2016, India successfully test fired the Barak-8. The long range missile was launched from a mobile launcher at the ITR in Chandipur at around 10:13 AM IST.
- On 25 December 2016, Azerbaijan successfully tested the missile.
- On 10 February 2017, Israel Aerospace Industries test fired the missile at sea to verify its capabilities.
- On 16 May 2017, the Indian Navy successfully test fired the missile from INS Kochi.
- On 29 November 2017, the Indian Navy test fired the missile from INS Kochi.
- On 25 January 2019, the Indian Navy test fired the missile from INS Chennai against an incoming aerial target flying at a low altitude.
Deployment
Operators
Current operators
- – By February 2017, Israel's Sa'ar 5-class corvettes to carry the newer Barak 8 missile system, instead of Barak 1. To that end, INS Lahav, a Sa'ar 5-class corvette live-fired the Barak 8 missile system, during a trial in late 2015. Subsequently, the navy will convert lighter Sa'ar 4.5-class corvettes in two to three years.
- – Indian Air Force, Kolkata-class destroyers, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, INS Vikramaditya, INS Vikrant and Nilgiri-class frigates
Potential operators
- – In 2014, Polish Navy evaluated the Barak 8 missile system for potential use in their ships.