NEW DELHI: In a boost to India’s maritime prowess, the Navy on Wednesday successfully test-fired 70 km-range Surface-to-Air Missile Barak 8 from INS Kolkata, paving the way for installation of the system, developed jointly by India and Israel, on board country’s frontline warships.
With this test, India has joined a select group of countries which has such an anti-air warfare capability for their navies. According to Navy, this was a quantum jump for the country’s air defence prowess. The Barak 8 missile fired by the Indian Navy from its warship INS Kolkata on the Western Seaboard successfully intercepted an aerial target at extended ranges. The missile has a range of nearly 70 km.
The successful firing of the newly developed Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR SAM) that was described by the Navy as a “significant milestone” in enhancing its anti-air warfare capability paves the way for installation of the system on India’s frontline warships. Only a small club of countries including the US, France, Britain and Israel possess such a capability. Two missiles were fired on Tuesday and Wednesday on high speed targets, during naval exercises being undertaken in the Arabian Sea.
Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile. The firing trial of the LR-SAM has been jointly carried out by the Indian Navy, DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries.