The Israeli Navy conducted a successful test of a long-range interceptor missile against an “advanced” cruise missile. The LRAD missile is developed by the Israeli Aerospace Industries and the Defense Ministry’s research and development division (MAFAT). BARAK LRAD is parallel to the Indian BARAK 8. The new Sa’ar 6-class corvette INS Magen launched the missile after detecting a target that resembled an advanced cruise missile and destroyed it. the LRAD missile is capable of foiling a myriad of aerial threats including planes, UAVs, cruise missiles, unguided rockets, and coast-to-sea missiles.
The BARAK 70, formerly known as LRAD, is a supersonic 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 intended to take down fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, cruise missiles at any altitude, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and gliding bombs. The Barak LRAD Interceptors has vertical launch capabilities supporting 360° coverage, quick reactions, high immunity to Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), short minimal ranges and an active high-end RF seeker for targets with low radar cross sections and high maneuverability. The BARAK LRAD is parallel to the Indian BARAK 8 surface-to-air missile.
The BARAK LRAD interceptor is part of the BARAK MX System that is an advanced Air & Missile Defense System. The Barak MX is a new modular air defense solution developed by IAI to engage a wide array of threats using three new interceptors, a common battle management center (BMC) and a variety fully digital integrated radar sensors. Each Barak MX launcher can be filled with eight Barak MRAD/LRAD/ER missiles. 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.
The Sa’ar 6-class corvettes’ design will be loosely based on the German Braunschweig-class corvette, but with engineering changes to accommodate Israeli-built sensors and missiles such as the Barak 8 and the naval Iron Dome system. The Sa’ar 6-class vessels have a displacement of almost 1,900 tons at full load and is 90 m (295 ft 3 in) long. They are armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, two Typhoon Weapon Stations, 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, 40 cells for the C-Dome point defense system, 16 anti-ship missiles Gabriel V. The EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar, and two 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo launchers.
