Israel and India conduct successfully test-fire of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile MRSAM.

According to a video released by IAI Israel Aerospace Industries on January 5, 2021, IAI has successfully conducted a test-fire of its Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) air defense missile system in India with the collaboration of India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

India and Israel have conducted a test-fire of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) in India. (Picture source Video footage IAI)

The Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) was developed in collaboration with Israeli companies IAI’s (Israel Aerospace Industries) Elta, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). In January 2019, IAI entered a $93m agreement with the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard for providing Naval MRSAM.

The program of the MRSAM was launched in February 2009 for the Israeli Air Force. The system is based on the Barak 8 a surface-to-air missile jointly developed by Israel and India. The missile is designed to destroy a wide range of aerial threats including t, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and fighter jets.

The Barak 8 missile has a length of about 4.5 meters, a diameter of 0.225 meters at the 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 a maximum speed of Mach 2 with a maximum operational range of 70 km.

The MRSAM is the land-based configuration of the missile which is able to shoot down aerial targets with a range from 50 to 70 km. it will replace aging air defense systems currently in service with Indian armed forces. The system includes a phased-array radar, command and control, mobile launchers, and interceptors with an advanced RF (Radio Frequency) Seeker. The launcher unit of the MRSAM is mounted on a three axles trailer towed by a 6x6 military truck. The launcher unit is mounted at the rear of the trailer and consists of eight missile containers in two rows of four. It can fire the missiles in single or ripple firing modes from the vertical firing position.