The Barak-8 missile – full operational status soon

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The Barak-8 missile air defense system is by any standard one of the most advanced in the world. All experts that talked with I-HLS agreed that in any parameter the Barak-8 is an advanced groundbreaking air and missile defense system that provides ultimate protection against a variety of aerial platforms, in both land and naval scenarios. It is designed jointly with the DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) in India and is used by both the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Indian defense forces. The system includes an advanced Phased Array digital radar, command and control, vertical launchers and missiles carrying a highly advanced seeker.

The joint Israeli-Indian project began in 2006. India needed a defence system for its navy ships and Israeli Air Industries (IAI) offered the Barak-8. The project is led by the Israeli ministry of defense (IMOD), IAI is the prime contractor, with Rafael as a subcontractor. Barak 8 is an advanced Air and Missile Defense System and serves both as a Point Defense and Long-Range anti-missile and air-defense, offering a unique high performance defensive capability thanks to its modular design, and its secure net-centric architecture. According to IAI the Barak 8 provides the ultimate protection against a variety of aerial platforms and ammunitions including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft and sea-skimming missiles. It is based on a sophisticated missile (developed in collaboration with Rafael), state-of-the-art phased array multi mission radar, two-way data link, and flexible command and control system.

The system’s radar manufactured by ELTA Systems – an IAI group and subsidiary – is a multi-mission radar, supporting air defense missions. It delivers an accurate, high quality, real-time arena situation picture and extracts low Radar Cross Section (RCS) targets even in the toughest environmental conditions. It is a digital Active Electronic Steering Array (AESA) Radar System which incorporates new and advanced technologies. Barak 8 can operate day and night, in all weather conditions, and successfully deals with simultaneous threats engagements, even in severe saturation scenarios.

The system has a very short reaction time and a fast missile vertical launch capability with 360 degree coverage. The system optimizes the coordination between the missile and batteries by using an advanced broadband communication network. The missile deals with short, medium, and long range threats, where its interconnectivity among the various ships in the naval task force enables it to be a multi-layer air and missile defense System of Systems.

According to Boaz Levy, IAI’s executive VP and the general manager of its system missiles & space group, the Barak-8 has an effective range of 70 km. There is a plan for an extended range version: “It will have an add-on booster and it will give the missile a 150 km range” the IAI senior official said.

The Barak- 8 can also be launched from the ground with the only difference being in the launcher and the radar. The ship version has four antennas covering 360 degrees while in the ground version the radar has one rotating antenna.

A Barak-8 system is already installed on one Indian navy ship and the missiles will be supplied this year. A Barak-8 system is also deployed on an Israeli navy’s SAAR -5 missile ship and will be part of the weapon systems that will be installed on the Israeli navy’s new ships to be built in Germany.