India Ready to Test Barak-2 Missile in the Current Year

http://www.defencenow.com/news/131/india-ready-to-test-barak-2-missile-in-the-current-year.html

The much anticipated test-flight of the Indo-Israeli Barak-2 long range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) will take place this year. Currently, the Barak -2 LR-SAM is undergoing simulated tests in Israel. The Barak-2 LR-SAM is being developed and produced for both the Indian and the Israeli militaries and is capable of multiple engagements and providing defence against a host of airborne platforms and munitions from short as well as medium ranges.

The state-run Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is the main developer of the Barak-2 LR-SAM and roughly 70 per cent of the missile content is indigenous. The main partner in this missile development programme is the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Barak-2 missile system, at an estimated cost of $ 581 million, has reached the final stage. The venture is a tripartite one between the DRDO, the Indian Navy, and IAI and was initiated in 2007. The Barak-2 missiles are to equip the three guided missile destroyers of the Project 15A class which will join the Indian Navy in one year intervals beginning in 2012. In the first phase, the missile will arm the three Kolkata-class destroyers and each ship will have four vertical launch units (VLUs), each housing eight missiles.

The Barak missile will be used as a point-defense system on warships, defending against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The missile can hit targets at a range of 70-100 kilometres. These missiles are mounted in an eight-cell container and are launched straight up. The radar system provides 360 degree coverage while the missiles can take down an incoming target as close as 500 meters from the ship.

The Barak-2 LR-SAM will fulfill the longer-range requirement of the Indian defense system. The first test of the missile was held in Israel last year when the Barak-II missile was successfully test fired at an electronic target and met with its initial objectives. The second test of the missile will be held in India later this year and the missile will be integrated by Indian technicians.

Earlier this month, a high level Israeli team had visited India to discuss various details pertaining to the missile programme. In fact, a second variant called the Medium-Range SAM (MR-SAM) is also being developed for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a cost of $ 2.2 billion. The project, signed in 2009, is expected to replace all the IAF’s aging Soviet-made Pechora SAM missiles. Besides this, a 100 kilometres range theatre defence version called the Extended Range SAM is being developed for the four Project 15B destroyers as well.