Israel, India Start To Equip Sea Forces With Barak-8 Defenses
Test Success Triggers High Hopes for Near-Term Deployment
Nov. 19, 2014 - 10:08AM | By BARBARA OPALL-ROME and VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141119/DEFREG/311190040/Israel-India-Start-Equip-Sea-Forces-Barak-8-Defenses

TEL AVIV AND 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.

Email: bopallrome@defensenews.com; vraghuvanshi@defensenews.com.