June 15, 2010
NEW DELHI — The jointly developed Indian/Israeli Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile
(LR-SAM) was test fired in Israel within the last two weeks, according to local news reports.
Known as Barak-2, the system is due for a second test later this year.
“[The] Defense Research Development Organization is jointly developing the next generation surface-to-air missile system and the MFSTAR multi-function radar under
a contract with a collaborator [Israel Aerospace Industries],” Indian chief of the naval staff Adm. Nirmal Kumar Verma told AVIATION WEEK recently. “The contract also
provides for adaptation, installation, trials and product support. The first of the systems will be operationalized with the commissioning of the first of the P15A destroyers. We are hoping it will get commissioned in 2012.”
The missile will be installed on the three Project 15A-class guided missile destroyers being built in Russia, which are due to join the Indian navy at one-year intervals beginning in 2012.
Another variant, the Medium-Range SAM, is under development for the Indian air force to replace Soviet-made Pechora SAM missiles. It is said that Pakistan is looking at an LR-SAM system to act as a deterrence and defensive player on the India-Pakistan border.
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