TEL AVIV & NEW DELHI — Israeli and Indian navies
are poised to equip their warships with advanced Barak-8 anti-missile
and air defense systems following last week’s long-awaited test, capping
nearly eight years of cooperative development.
Led by state-owned
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the vertically launched intercepting
system has a 70-kilometer range and provides persistent 360-degree
coverage against saturation attacks by sea-skimming missiles and a
spectrum of air-breathing threats. IAI executives said sea-based
versions are now ready for full-rate production for both navies, which
are expected to declare initial operational capability in a number of
months.
In parallel, an IAI-led team is readying a ground-based
version for the Indian Air Force, with projected deployment to begin
next year and extend through 2017. Defense officials and Navy
officers from both countries hailed the successful Nov. 10 intercept
test as validation of all system elements and a testament to their
strategic ties.
An Indian Navy official noted that the program had
run nearly four years behind schedule, primarily due to problems with
the DRDO-developed rocket motor, “which affected the range and
operational capability to engage sonic targets.”
The Barak-8 system had been slated for delivery by 2011 under a 2006 government-to-government contract, Indian officials said.
Boaz
Levy, executive vice president and general manager of IAI’s Systems,
Missiles and Space Group, told Israel-based reporters that
engine-related problems have been resolved and that all elements of sea-
and ground-based variants are validated and ready for serial
production.
“It was a perfect interception. Just beautiful,” Levy
said of the Nov. 10 test against an air-breathing target simulating
advanced maneuvering capabilities of fighter bombers.
Alluding to
developmental challenges and schedule glitches, Rear Adm. Ophir Shoham,
director of Israel’s Defense Research and Development Directorate
(DR&DD), said the Barak-8 project showcased “constructive
cooperation between the Indian DRDO [Defence Research and Development
Organization] and the Israeli DR&DD and the armed forces of both
nations.
“Together, they have pushed forward this important
program, overcoming technological challenges and earning achievements
along the way,” he said.
Similarly, Avinash Chander, DRDO chief
and scientific adviser to India’s minister of defense, hailed the test
as “an important milestone” in bilateral cooperation.
Chander led a
delegation of Defence Ministry officials, scientists and Navy officers
participating with Israeli counterparts in the milestone test. Last
week’s success transitions the program into another series of
operational tests as flagship partners equip and field sea-based
defenses.
Sources in New Delhi said the Indian Navy plans to begin
equipping the Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missile defense system
on its stealth warships, under construction at state-owned Mazagon
Docks.
An Indian DRDO official said last week’s test validated the
system’s ability to perform maneuvers. He said the intercepting system
will be tested in India before the project is completed.
In
Israel, the Navy plans to equip its three Sa’ar-5 corvettes with the
system. One of the Sa’ar-5s has already been outfitted with the active
electronically scanned array radar system developed by IAI’s Elta
Systems subsidiary for the Barak-8 program. The radar consists of four
large panels positioned at both ends of the ship for persistent,
all-weather, 360-degree coverage. Under Israel’s operational
concept, individual ships are capable of operating independently or as a
battle group, where smaller vessels are slaved to the Barak-8-equipped
command ship.
“The C4I system is unprecedented in its sophistication,” Levy said. “All ships in the group see the entire picture.” IAI
data released shortly after last week’s test said the system uses an
advanced broadband communication network to coordinate between the
missile and batteries.
“The system deals with short-, medium- and
long-range threats, where its interconnectivity among the various ships
in the naval task force enables it to be a multilayer air and missile
defense system of systems,” according to IAI.
An Indian DRDO official said dozens of DRDO scientists have been stationed in Israel for the duration of the project.
An
IAI executive said IAI and its team of subcontractors are already
supplying the system “to a number of customers” whom he declined to
identify beyond flagship users in Tel Aviv and New Delhi.
