A closer look at the barak family
-Prasanth GS
During ongoing tension on the border, Indian armed forces acquired a system from Israel on emergency basis. Many believed the system to be SPYDER while many believed it to be MRSAM based on Barak 8 missile. The Barak 8 Missile is an Indo-Israel joint venture. Let’s have a detailed look at the Barak family of missiles.
The Barak MX is a state-of-the-art flexible air defense system developed by IAI to engage and neutralize a wide array of threats using three new interceptors with the support from a common Battle Management Center (BMC) and a fully digital integrated radar sensor. The Barak MX all-weather, supersonic interceptors feature a single integrated solution for multiple simultaneous aerial threats with 360-degree vertical launch, quick reaction and an active radiofrequency seeker. Besides, the interceptors feature optimized warhead, high maneuverability, multiple simultaneous engagement, fast and reliable target acquisition and high immunity to Electronic Counter Measures (ECM). Each Barak MX launcher can be filled with eight Barak MRAD/LRAD/ER interceptor missiles.
- Barak MRAD for an interception range of 35 km with a single pulse rocket motor.
- Barak LRAD for an interception range of 70 km with a dual pulse rocket motor.
- Barak ER for an interception range of 150 km with a dual pulse rocket motor and an additional booster.
All interceptors are compatible to launch from one BARAK land-based launcher, or Naval launcher.
BATTLE MANAGEMENT CENTER (BMC)
The BARAK Battle Management Center (BMC) provides you with a sensor-fused data/image and interception coordinates and helps the task forces to manages the launch series. Barak BMC has been developed in both naval and land-based configuration.
IAI’s Fully Digital Integrated AESA radar can be scaled up or down based on the end user requirements and configurations. The BARAK MX system can be integrated with any existing or new sensors. BARAK MX’s innovative software-based open architecture offers exceptional flexibility in operation and power projection and ensures simple adaptation to future threats. The missiles can maneuver at 50g and are provided with a radiofrequency data-link allowing communications between the BMC and the interceptor-missile. The Barak MX air defense system is suitable for land and naval applications and is expected to be deployed in the early 2020s.
BARAK MRAD
The Barak MRAD supersonic interceptor is part of the BARAK MX System that is an advanced Air & Missile Defense System that provides a single integrated solution for multiple simultaneous aerial threats from different sources and different ranges.
It’s is a short-medium range state-of-the-art quick reaction interceptor powered by a single pulse rocket motor with a maximum range of 35 kilometers with the ability to hit targets flying at up to 20 kilometers of altitude. The missile is intended to take down fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, cruise missiles at any altitude, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and gliding bombs. The BARAK MRAD is a vertically launched platform with 360-degree coverage and has an active high-end RF seeker for targets with low radar cross-sections and high maneuverability.
| Technical Details | Capabilities |
| Range: 35km Altitude: 20km Maneuverability: 50g Missiles per Launcher: 8 Vertical Launch Single Pulse Motor Data Link between BMC and Missiles All-weather | Any threat: Fighters Sea-Skimming and Cruise Missiles UAVs Helicopters Gliding Bombs Any mission: Point defense Area defense Any battle condition: Naval Land – mobile deployed |
BARAK LRAD
The Barak LRAD supersonic interceptor is a long-range robust interceptor powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and features a maximum range of 70 kilometers with the ability to hit targets flying at up to 20 kilometers of altitude. The missile is designed and developed to intercept aerial targets such as fighter-bomber aircrafts and UAVs, anti-ship & cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) and gliding bombs at any altitude.
Similar to MRAD, the Barak LRAD is also a short-range quick reaction interceptor with vertical launch capabilities supporting 360-degree coverage and an active high-end RF seeker for targets with low radar cross sections and high maneuverability. BARAK LRAD is same as the Indian BARAK 8.
| Technical Details | Capabilities |
| Range: 70km Altitude: 20km Maneuverability: 50g Missiles per Launcher: 8 Dual Pulse Rocket Motor Vertical Launch Data Link between BMC and Missiles All-weather | Any threat: Fighters Sea-Skimming and Cruise Missiles TBMs UAVs Helicopters Gliding Bombs Any mission: Point defense Area defense Ballistic Missile defense Any battle condition: Naval Land – Mobile deployed |
BARAK ER
The Barak ER supersonic interceptor is an extended-range robust interceptor powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and features a maximum range of 150 kilometers with the ability to hit targets flying at up to 30 kilometers of altitude. The Barak ER interceptor is longer than the other ones in the family as it is added with a booster phase/motor to enhance its maximum range. The missile is designed and developed to intercept aerial targets such as fighter-bomber aircrafts and UAVs, anti-ship & cruise missiles, and gliding bombs at any altitude. Similar to LRAD, the Barak ER features advanced characteristics to engage tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) as well.
| Technical Details | Capabilities |
| Range: 150km Altitude: 30km Maneuverability: 50g Missiles per Launcher: 8 Dual Pulse Rocket Motor with additional booster motor. Vertical Launch Data Link between BMC and Missiles All-weather | Any threat: Fighters Sea-Skimming and Cruise Missiles TBMs UAVs Helicopters Gliding Bombs Any mission: Point defense Area defense Enhanced Ballistic Missile defense Any battle condition: Naval Land – deployed |
Highlights of all the three missiles:
| BARAK MRAD | BARAK LRAD | BARAK ER |
| Up to 35 km range Vertical launch 360° interceptions Low launch signature High maneuverability Robust kill – Effective Warhead Active radar seeker Multiple simultaneous engagements Fast and reliable target acquisition High immunity to ECM Single Pulse Motor 2-way datalink between BMC and missiles | Up to 70 km range Vertical launch 360° interceptions Low launch signature High maneuverability Robust kill – Effective Warhead Active radar seeker Multiple simultaneous engagements Fast and reliable target acquisition High immunity to ECM Dual Pulse Motor Enhanced TBM capabilities 2-way datalink between BMC and missiles | Up to 150 km range Vertical launch 360° interceptions Low launch signature High maneuverability Robust kill – Effective Warhead Active radar seeker Multiple simultaneous engagements Fast and reliable target acquisition High immunity to ECM Dual pulse Motor with additional booster Enhanced TBM capabilities 2-way datalink between BMC and missiles |
BARAK 8
BARAK 8 was co-developed by India and Israel as a highly maneuverable surface-to-air missile (SAM). Its developed to defend all sorts of airborne threat such as fighter-bomber aircrafts, helicopters, UAVs, anti-ship missiles, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles . Barak 8 was developed in both maritime and land-based variants. Barak 8 is known as LR-SAM for Indian Navy and as MR-SAM for Indian Air Force.
When integrated with a modern 3D long-range multi-function S-band AESA radar such as the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR, also known as Indian AEGIS onboard the Kolkata-class destroyers, Barak 8 enables the capability to simultaneously engage multiple targets during saturation attacks.
Barak 8 features includes:
- Range – 70 km with 360-degree coverage
- Bidirectional data link
- Active Radar Seeker
- Smokeless Dual Pulse Propulsion with Thrust Vector Control
- Vertical Launched Multiple Target Engagement
- Point Air Defence Anti-Ballistic Missile
DESIGN COMPARISON BETWEEN BARAK 8 & BARAK LRAD
Prominent external difference between the two missiles are the front fins. Barak 8 has triangular front fin (canard) and the Barak LRAD has the logitudinal mid-span and half-span wing. This details is important since the Barak LRAD configuration is more efficient for a long flight path while the Barak 8 is more maneuverable and appropriate for naval SAM that will usually face threats closer to the surface.