Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) and DRDO, the Indian Ministry of Defense R&D organization, today conducted two successful trials of the Barak 8 defense missile. In the two trials, conducted one several hours after the other, the IAI-developed missile succeeded in intercepting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) simulating its target.
This is the first time that IAI and DRDO have conducted a successful trial of the Barak 8 in a land warfare scenario; up until now, the missile has been installed on warships. The trial was conducted in the Bay of Bengal region as part of the preliminary processes for the delivery of the advanced missile system to the Indian air force.
The defense system is based on radar developed by IAI subsidiary Elta Systems, and on components of the missile interceptor manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Indian companies were also involved in the development program for the defense system.
Delivery of the system for use by the Indian navy has already begun, and successful interception trials of the Barak 8 were conducted six months ago in the Indian Ocean.
India is regarded as a key partner in the development of the new defense missile, and also played a major part in financing the project. At the same time, defense sources said today that besides the Indian army and the IDF, other countries had purchased the new defense system. The source estimated its sales to date at $3 billion.
The Barak 8 provides protection against a broad range of threats, including aircraft, UAVs, and various types of missiles, including cruise missiles, coast-to-sea missiles, sea-to-sea missiles, and air-to-sea missiles. It provides perimeter defense at a 70-kilometer range for vessels and land-based targets.
The Israel navy, which is also procuring IAI's new missiles system, intends to use it for protection of ships in the Mediterranean Sea and national gas infrastructure, which are exposed to the threat of advanced missiles like the Yakhont, which Hezbollah is believed to possess.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 29, 2016
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