Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM)

Barak 8/ LR-SAM

Type
Place of origin

Long-range surface-to-air missile
Israel, India

Service history
In service

Induction Phase[1]

Production history

Designer

Manufacturer

Israel Aerospace
Industries
Defence Research and Development
Organisation
Rafael Advanced
Defense
Systems[2]
Bharat Dynamics
Limited[3]

Specifications
Weight
Length length Diameter

275 kg (606 lb)[4]
4.5 m (180 in)[4][5]
123 cm (48 in)
0.225/0.54
m[4][5][6]

Detonation mechanism Engine
Wingspan
Operational range Flight ceiling
Speed

Guidance system Launch platform Proximity (60 kg warhead)[4] Two stage, smokeless pulsed rocket motor
0.94 m[4][5]
0.5–90km,[7][8]
some media reports indicate a capability of
100km[9][10]
0–16 km[4][5]
Mach 2 (680 m/s)[4] • Two way data link[11]
• Active
RF/IIR
seeker[11]
8 cell VLS module[5] Barak 8 (the Hebrew word for Lightning) also known as LR-SAM[12][13] is an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship
Barak 8 (the Hebrew word for Lightning) also known as LR-SAM[12][13] is an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat jets out to a maximum range of 70 km,[5][14][15][16] however, reports suggest the missile has been increased to a maximum range of 90 km following "range upgrade discussions" between India and Israel during November 2014.[7][8] Some news agencies have referred to the missiles range at
100 km.[9][10] Both maritime and land-based versions of the system exist.[17]
Barak 8 was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), India's Defence Research &
Development Organisation (DRDO), Israel's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Systems, Rafael and other companies. Bharat Dynamics
Limited (BDL) will produce the missiles. The first 32 missile will be fitted on the Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata (D63).[18]

Contents
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1 Background
2 Characteristics
3 Barak-8ER
4 Flight tests
5 Operators o 5.1 Current operators o 5.2 Potential operators
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

Background
Barak 8 is based on the original Barak 1 missile and is expected to feature a more advanced seeker, alongside range extensions that will move it closer to medium range naval systems like the RIM-162 ESSM or even the SM-2 Standard. Israel successfully tested its improved Barak II missile on July 30, 2009. The radar system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an incoming missile as close as 500 meters away from the ship. Each Barak system
(missile container, radar, computers and installation) costs about $24 million.[19] In November
2009 Israel signed a $1.1 billion contract to supply an upgraded tactical Barak 8 air defence system to India.[20]

Characteristics

Barak 8 launcher module.

The Barak 8 has a length of about 4.5 meters, a diameter of 0.225 meters [6] at 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.[5] The missile has maximum speed of Mach 2 with a maximum operational range of 70 km,[5][14][15][16] which was later increased to 100 km.[9][10]
Barak 8 features a dual pulse rocket motor as well as Thrust vector control,[21] and possesses high degrees of maneuverability at target interception range. A second motor is fired during the terminal phase, at which stage the active radar seeker is activated to home in on to the enemy track.[5] Barak 8 has been designed to counter a wide variety of air-borne threats, such as; antiship missiles, aircraft, UAVs drones and supersonic missiles[22] When coupled with a modern air-defence system and multi-function surveillance track and guidance radars, (such as the
EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA on board the Kolkata-class destroyers) Barak 8 enables the capability to simultaneously engage multiple targets during saturation attacks.[5][11]
Israel Aerospace Industries describe Barak 8 as "an advanced, long-range missile defense and air defense system" with its main features being:[11][23]
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Long Range
Two way data link (GPS S band)
Active Radar Seeker Missile
360 degree coverage
Vertical Launch
Multiple Simultaneous Engagements

Barak 8 has been described as giving potential use as a point defence anti-ballistic missile due to its combination of advanced capabilities.[24]

Barak-8ER
It has been reported that an ER (extended range) variant of the Barak 8 is under development, which will see the missiles maximum range increased to 150 km.[21] Designed to engage multiple beyond visual range threats, the low launch signature Barak-8ER is understood to retain the same autopilot/inertial navigation system and active radar seeker guidance as the Barak-8, although some modifications to the software and to the missile control surfaces are likely. The booster increases the length of the missile at launch from its current 4.5 m to nearly 6 m, although the length in flight after the booster has been jettisoned may be slightly less than the base Barak-8 missile, if a TVC is not present. The missile diameter and fin spans are thought to be the same as the base Barak-8. The booster weight is currently unknown, although the missile's weight after the booster has been jettisoned is the same as that for the current Barak-8 configuration.
Levy said that initial operational capability (IOC) for Barak-8ER will first be declared for the naval variant, followed by IOC for the land variant. He declined to comment on a launch customer for Barak-8ER, but noted "existing Barak-8 customers will be interested in this configuration because it offers additional capability to their current system".[21] The missile is expected to equip the Indian Navys future Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.[25][26]

Flight tests

INS Kolkata firing a Barak 8 missile.
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In May 2010, the Barak-II missile was successfully test fired at an electronic target and met its initial objectives. The second test of the missile was to be held in India later in 2010.[27] "More than 70 per cent of the content in the missile being developed with Israel would be indigenous."
DRDO chief V. K. Saraswat told The Economic Times.[28]
On 10 November 2014 the Barak 8 was successfully test fired in Israel with all integrated operational components for both the marine & land system.[29][30]
On 26 November 2015, a successful test was conducted on a drone target.[31]
On 29 December 2015 and 30 December 2015 the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the Barak 8 missile from INS Kolkata.[32][33] Two missiles were fired at high speed targets, during naval exercises being undertaken in the Arabian Sea.[34][35]