The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced Sunday it had won second large contract this year, worth $630 million, with the Indian Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a state-owned aerospace and defense company.
IAI will sell systems for the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile that it is developing in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Defense.
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As part of the deal, BEL will supply the Indian Navy four new warships equipped with an appropriate version of the Barak 8 system.
The previous deal was sealed last month (April) in which IAI will supply to the Indian naval and land armed forces Barak 8 systems. That deal, Israel’s largest ever, is worth some $2 billion.
The deal was part of the Indian government “Make in India” policy to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India. BEL will be used as the primary contractor the project.
India successfully conducted a test of the Barak 8 missile system as part of an operational interception trial.
IAI said that the missile located its target during its flight, adjusted its flight course accordingly, using its homing system, and successfully made contact and destroyed it.
IAI president and CEO Joseph Weiss said, “The new contract adds to other deals signed in the last decade by IAI with India’s defense forces, reinforcing IAI’s global leadership position in air and missile defense systems. The inclusion of Indian governmental company BEL for the first time is a step up in our relationship with the Indian industry. This unique project represents the close collaboration between India’s DRDO, IAI and the defense forces of both countries. We will proceed to implement it with joint efforts.”
The LR-SAM system, (the Barak 8 which mean Lightning in Hebrew) is an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM). The system designed to defend against airborne threats including anti-ship missiles, UAVs, cruise missiles aircraft, helicopters, and fighter jets.
The system’s main features are its long range, a two-way GPS data link, an active radar seeker missile, 360-degree coverage, vertical launch and multiple simultaneous engagements capabilities.
