Israel's IAI Confirms Barak MX Air Defense Missile System Contract for Royal Thai Air Force.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) confirmed in early December 2025 that it has secured a major export contract to supply the Royal Thai Air Force with the Barak MX air defense missile system. The deal gives Thailand its first fully integrated medium-range air defense capability, strengthening protection against ballistic, cruise, and unmanned threats.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced in early December 2025 that it had finalized a significant export agreement with Thailand for the delivery of the Barak MX air defense system, marking one of the Royal Thai Air Force’s most consequential air defense acquisitions to date. According to information released by the state-owned Israeli defense firm, the system will provide Thailand with a layered, networked capability designed to counter a wide range of modern aerial threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, manned aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Israel’s Barak MX is a modular, multi-layer air defense system designed to intercept aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats at ranges up to 150 km. Developed by IAI, it features advanced radar, command-and-control, and multiple interceptor types, offering mobile, networked protection for modern battlefield and homeland defense operations. (Picture source: IAI)

The Barak MX is a modular, network-centric air defense missile system designed and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to provide layered, multi-mission protection in rapidly evolving combat environments. The system is based on a flexible architecture that can be configured in multiple variants to meet operational needs, ranging from point defense to full theater-level protection. It is capable of defending static infrastructure, mobile formations, and population centers against a wide range of airborne threats.

Central to the Barak MX’s capability is its multi-layer missile family, which includes three main interceptor types: the Barak-MRAD (Medium Range) with a 35 km range, the Barak-LRAD (Long Range) with a 70 km range, and the Barak-ER (Extended Range) that can engage targets at distances up to 150 km. All variants are vertically launched, feature active radar homing, and are capable of high-speed maneuvering to intercept agile and high-speed targets, including low-signature cruise missiles and ballistic threats during their terminal phase.

The Barak MX air defense system is equipped with IAI’s Multi-Mission Radar (MMR), a solid-state, digitally beam-steered AESA radar capable of simultaneously tracking hundreds of targets. The radar operates in the S-band and is optimized to track a wide range of threats, including ballistic projectiles, aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs, under complex jamming and clutter conditions. This radar is battle-proven and also supports the Israeli Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems, providing a unified radar pedigree across several Israeli defense solutions.

The Command and Control (C2) center of the Barak MX processes real-time radar data, external intelligence feeds, and engagement orders through an AI-assisted battle management system. This software-centric approach enables operators to prioritize and assign interceptors automatically or manually, depending on the combat doctrine in use. The C2 node is networked, meaning it can function independently or be integrated into broader national or allied air defense networks. This enables the Barak MX to operate as part of a larger defensive web, enhancing its scalability and interoperability.

The entire Barak MX ecosystem is designed for mobility and rapid deployment. All system components – including radar, launchers, reloading units, and support vehicles – are mounted on tactical wheeled platforms, enabling high operational flexibility in field conditions. This mobility allows air defense forces to reposition quickly, evade enemy targeting, and protect moving formations or temporary high-value assets.

In addition to supplying the hardware, IAI has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) to ensure local sustainment of the system. This includes technical training, maintenance, and future upgrades. It is also a signal that Thailand intends to establish sovereign maintenance capability, a growing requirement among regional air forces seeking operational independence in crisis scenarios.

The Barak MX system is part of a broader class of Israeli-developed air defense solutions and is already operational with countries such as India, Azerbaijan, and Morocco. Its export success stems from its proven combat performance, advanced threat-engagement envelope, and modular configuration, which make it suitable for diverse terrains and threat environments.

For Thailand, which previously relied on short-range and legacy point defense systems, the acquisition of Barak MX represents a transformative leap. It not only increases the RTAF’s (Royal Thai Air Force) ability to counter long-range threats but also positions the country as a more active participant in regional air defense cooperation, particularly as Southeast Asia sees growing interest in missile defense capabilities in response to advances in UAVs, standoff weapons, and regional missile proliferation.

With the Barak MX system set for phased delivery and local integration, Thailand enters a new era of multi-layered airspace defense, backed by a mature and scalable system that has already gained significant traction in global defense markets.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.