IAI Barak

Big_Zukini

Big_Zukini

ACCESS: Top Secret
Joined
23 November 2024
Messages
791
Reaction score
1,539
IAI's Barak achieved several milestones this week:
1. First operational intercept via the Barak Magen naval air defense system.
The Barak Magen is a Barak system integrated into the Magen class Sa'ar 6 ship's systems.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934503723562098798

Now the IAF released a statement that an IAF-operated Barak system, notice Barak and not Barak Magen, has intercepted a drone for the first time.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1936027436660949228

The Barak MX system comes with a variety of interceptors for different ranges, typically separated by booster size.
Barak has an ABM capability, likely at its highest range category.

I believe it is likely the Barak system was put into IAF service in a as-is form, from IAI's available stock, to assist in the BMD task. Similar to how Spyder was put into limited service against Hezbollah drones in 2024.
 
Big_Zukini said:
I believe it is likely the Barak system was put into IAF service in a as-is form, from IAI's available stock, to assist in the BMD task. Similar to how Spyder was put into limited service against Hezbollah drones in 2024.
Click to expand...

The Barak IIRC has been around for several decades now originating with the Barak 1.
 
NMaude said:
The Barak IIRC has been around for several decades now originating with the Barak 1.
Click to expand...
Purely as a naval system.
Same with the Barak 8.
Now it's the Barak MX and is in service with the IAF. Mentioned interceptors are LRAD (70km) and ERAD (150km).

Declared targets:
Drones and Cruise Missiles.

Barak MX also has some ABM capability. I'm uncertain as to whether or not it was used in that mission.
It is also the only missile in that range category with an active RF seeker.
As you can see in the David's Sling thread, an active RF seeker is still not deployed on Stunner, which would be very helpful against cruise missiles and drones.

Though after the David's Sling gets new interceptors, I don't see a reason for Barak MX to exist in IAF service. Nor do I see why the IDF shouldn't consolidate the naval air defense mission to a David's Sling variant.
 
Come to think of it, exo-atmospheric could refer to the threat type. Like Iron Dome was said to defeat targets with a range of 70km and later 250km, which many interpreted as the Tamir missile's range but really was the enemy rocket's range. Kinda pointless parameter since it and David's Sling (advertised vs 300km range threats) both intercepted MRBMs recently.
Or EA could mean something else entirely.

Anyway, both IAI's Barak and Rafael's Spyder have in recent years been advertized with basic BMD capabilities, likely driven by European demand. IAI also has the Arrow 4 as a layer below Arrow 3, and Rafael is developing the SkySonic.
Aside from the joint David's Sling used by Finland, Rafael and IAI each have one NATO customer operating their long range SAMs.
 
Last edited:
Danish media report that they decided against buying the Barak MX.
The option was raised after reports of drones shutting down activity at CPH airport, and a subsequent newfound sense of urgency (long implementation time of SAMP/T).

For some reason the original Danish report about its consideration mentioned a soft kill anti drone system. It is possible they will be buying C-UAS systems instead, and that the initial report mistook Barak components (e.g. radars, EO) for the whole system.

breakingdefense.com

Denmark decides against Israeli Barak air defense order - Breaking Defense

The Defense Command specifically recommended that “resources for the possible implementation of Barak MX should be used on other initiatives with greater immediate combat power."
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
 
Big_Zukini said:
Danish media report that they decided against buying the Barak MX.
The option was raised after reports of drones shutting down activity at CPH airport, and a subsequent newfound sense of urgency (long implementation time of SAMP/T).

For some reason the original Danish report about its consideration mentioned a soft kill anti drone system. It is possible they will be buying C-UAS systems instead, and that the initial report mistook Barak components (e.g. radars, EO) for the whole system.

breakingdefense.com

Denmark decides against Israeli Barak air defense order - Breaking Defense

The Defense Command specifically recommended that “resources for the possible implementation of Barak MX should be used on other initiatives with greater immediate combat power."
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
Click to expand...
This: https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/...e-directed_energy/images/CLWS-second-page.pdf
 
And Thailand too

www.janes.com

Thai air force selects Barak MX

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has selected Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI's) Barak MX air and missile defence system to meet a requirement to enhance the protection...
www.janes.com www.janes.com

Forest Green said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1995532969432191102
View: https://x.com/Danale/status/1995532969432191102?s=20
Click to expand...
I'm curious about the thought process here. IAI's Barak, and Rafael's Spyder and David's Sling are three systems with overlapping capabilities.
The Spyder and Barak at least have multiple scales of radar and sensors, launchers, and missiles. They can both do VSHORAD and up to BMD.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom