Successful comprehensive trial for IAI's Barak-8 defense missile system

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Defence & Security Industry News - IAI

 
 
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 09:48 AM
 
Successful comprehensive trial for IAI's Barak-8 defense missile system
The Barak-8 Air and Missile Defense System has successfully completed a comprehensive trial of its components, the prime contractor Israel Aerospace Industries ( IAI) announced on Monday. A live intercepting missile was fired during the trial, which was carried out in conjunction with Indian defense and military officials and was the first involving a full operational scenario, the company said in a statement.
     
The Barak-8 Air and Missile Defense System has successfully completed a comprehensive trial of its components, the prime contractor Israel Aerospace Industries ( IAI) announced on Monday. A live intercepting missile was fired during the trial, which was carried out in conjunction with Indian defense and military officials and was the first involving a full operational scenario, the company said in a statement. IAI Barak-8 Medium range surface-to-air defense missile
     
After being detected by radar, the weapon system calculated the optimal interception point and launched the Barak-8 missile into its operational trajectory. It then acquired and shot down a target simulating a hostile aircraft, the release said.

Israeli specialists and Indian scientists attended the trial, as did officials from the Israeli Defense Ministry's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT) and India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) - which are jointly developing the system - and military officials from both countries.

"The current test validated all components of the weapon system to the satisfaction of the customer representatives," the statement said.

Designed to defend against a variety of short-to-long-range airborne threats - including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones and projectiles - Barak-8 incorporates a state-of-the-art phased array multi-mission radar, two-way data link, and a flexible command and control system, enabling users to simultaneously engage multiple targets day and night and in all weather conditions, according to IAI.

The latest version tested Monday is part of next-generation defenses currently being installed on Israeli Navy ships to protect them from threats that include Russian-made Yakhont surface-to-sea missiles reportedly in the possession of Lebanese Shi'ite militia Hezbollah, according to The Jerusalem Post. To date, the system has racked up "significant sales" to customers around the world, IAI said.

Other partners in the project include ELTA Systems Ltd., an IAI subsidiary which develops the radar, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which produces the interceptor missile, and other defense firms.