Barak MX

Barak MX
A Sa'ar 6-class ship launches an LR interceptor during test
Service history
In service	2023
Wars	Operation Am Kalavi
Production history
Manufacturer	Israel Israel Aerospace Industries
Specifications
Length	4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
Diameter	22 cm (8.7 in) for the missile body, 54 cm (21 in) in the booster stage

Barak MX is an Israeli modular multi-mission air and missile defense system suitable for land and naval deployment, designed to defend against aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), anti-ship missiles, cruise missiless, as well as tactical ballistic missiles. The original purpose of the system is to protect vessels and strategic naval installations. ^[1] The system was developed and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. ^[2] The missile's rocket engine is manufactured at the "Givon" plant (formerly of IMI Systems and since November 2018 of "Tomer (Elbit Systems)"). ^[3]

Unlike the Barak 8 system, which was developed and manufactured in cooperation between IAI, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) industry, ^{[4] [5]} and the Barak 1, which was developed together with Rafael, the Barak MX is an exclusive development of IAI based on the experience of the Barak 8 and Barak 1 systems. ^[3]

The system is installed on the Israeli Navy 's Sa'ar 6-class ships, where it is called "Barak Magen". The land-based configuration of the system was also used by the Israeli Air Force 's air defence system during Operation Am Kalavi. ^[3]

Characteristics and mode of operation

Barak MX is a modular system that includes a fire control center, ^[6] a variety of radar types, and four types of interceptors. The system components can be customized according to customer requirements, and installed on land and various sea platforms, including warships such as missile boats, corvettes, frigates or destroyers. ^[7]

The system includes four models of interceptors:

• SR – short-range interceptor of 15 km (9.3 mi)
• MR – 35 km (22 mi) short and medium range interceptor (formerly known as MRAD) ^[8]
• LR – 70 km (43 mi) medium and long-range interceptor (formerly known as LRAD) ^[9]
• ER – Interceptor with an extended range of 150 km (93 mi) and a flight altitude of 30 km (98,000 ft) ^[10]

Development and testing

On March 22, 2021, it was reported that a successful series of tests of the Barak ER version, capable of intercepting threats at a range of 150 km, had been completed. ^[11]

On November 30, 2022, a successful test launch of an LR missile from a Israeli Navy Sa'ar 6-class ship was conducted, intercepting a target missile that resembled a cruise missile. ^{[12] [13]}

On May 14, 2023, a successful test was conducted in which a missile was launched from the Indian Navy destroyer INS Mormugao and intercepted a missile that simulated a supersonic cruise missile. ^{[14] [5] [15]}

On August 1, 2024, a successful test of an LR interceptor launched from the Sa'ar 6 ship AHI Independence was completed. ^[16]

Operational activity

On July 2, 2022, Barak missiles launched from the Sa'ar 5-class corvette INS Eilat shot down two reconnaissance UAVs operated by Hezbollah over the Israeli off-shore Karish gas field in the Mediterranean Sea. ^[17]

On June 16, 2025, during Operation Am Kalavi in Gaza war, the first successful operational use of the Israeli Navy's system was reported to have intercepted UAVs launched from Iran. ^[18] A land-based version of the system, known in the IDF as Barak, was operated by the Air Defense Division, and recorded its first interception on June 19, 2025. ^[19]

Users

• Israel: Installed on the Sa'ar 6-class ships of the Israeli Navy, and named in the Navy "Barak Magen". The system was also used by the Air Defense System of the Air Force during the Operation Am Kalavi. ^[20]
• Morocco: Ordered the system in 2022. ^{[21] [22] [23]}
• Colombia: Ordered the system in 2023 in a deal worth $131 million, ^[24] but the deal was suspended following the severance of relations with Israel.
• Azerbaijan: Ordered the system in 2023 in a $1.2 billion deal. ^[25]
• Slovakia: In 2023, the Slovak government approved the purchase of 6 batteries. ^{[26] [27] [28]} On December 23, 2024, the deal was signed with Israel Aerospace Industries to supply the systems for a total of 560 million euros (2 billion shekels). ^{[29] [30]}
• Cyprus: In December 2024, it was reported that it had at least 2 batteries of the system. ^{[31] [32] [33]}

See also

• Related systems from the "Barak" series:
  • Barak 8 - the equivalent system produced in collaboration with DRDO from India
  • Barak 1 - The air defense system for vessels developed by Israel Aerospace Industries in collaboration with Rafael in service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
• Additional Israeli air defense systems:
  • SPYDER - An air defense system manufactured by Rafael in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries.
  • David's Sling - a system manufactured by Rafael in collaboration with Israel Israel Aerospace Industries and Raytheon to intercept medium-long-range rockets and missiles.
  • Iron Dome - An Israeli system for intercepting short- and medium-range rockets and missiles. It is in service with the IDF.
  • C-Dome - The naval version of Iron Dome, installed on the Sa'ar 6-class ships.
  • Arrow - the ballistic missile defense system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and the topmost layer of the State of Israel's multi-layered air defense and missile defense.
• Other air defense systems in the world:
  • MIM-104 Patriot - An American defense system for use against aircraft and ballistic missiles. It was in service with the IDF until July 2024.
  • RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 - American anti-missile missile launched from Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System ships
  • S-300 missile system and S-400 missile system - Russian surface-to-air missile systems
  • S-500 missile system - Russian-made anti-ballistic missile

Footnotes

1. Cohen, Gili (August 20, 2014). ""Barak" - "Iron Dome" of the drilling rigs". Haaretz . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
2. "WATCH: IAI carries out successful trial of Barak 8 air and missile defense system". November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
3. "IAI en route to extended range Barak-8ER - IHS Jane's 360". August 10, 2015. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016.
4. "DRDO hands over air defence missile (MRSAM) System to Indian Air Force in presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan". Press Information Bureau . September 9, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
5. "MR-SAM: Boosting Efficacy of India's Air Defence". Chanakya Forum. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
6. See Ship gun fire-control system for the naval aspect of the system.
7. "India's most-advanced warship to get the missing Missiles". February 5, 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
8. "BARAK MR (MRAD) Short-Medium Range Robust Interceptor". Israel Aerospace Industries . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
9. "BARAK LR (LRAD) Long Range Robust Interceptor". Israel Aerospace Industries . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
10. "BARAK ER Extended Range Interceptor". Israel Aerospace Industries . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
11. Roxas Dumba, Ami (March 22, 2021). "Israel Aerospace Industries: Test of "Barak" interceptor with a range of 150 km". www.israeldefense.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 4, 2025.
12. "Successful interception of a long-range interceptor 'LRAD' against a target simulating an advanced cruise missile" (in Hebrew). November 30, 2022.
13. Frantzman, Seth J. (December 2022). "Watch Israel test its anti-missile Barak weapon at sea". Defense News. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
14. Hindustan Times (May 22, 2023), Indian Navy's destroyer Mormugao intercepts supersonic target with Barak-8 missile | Watch , retrieved October 6, 2024
15. "Israel Aerospace gets $630m missile defense deal for Indian Navy". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
16. "AHI Independence conducted a successful interception test with a long-range LRAD interceptor". IDF . August 2, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
17. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-it-shot-down-3-hezbollah-drones-heading-for-karish-gas-field/ IDF shoots down 3 Hezbollah drones heading for Karish gas field
18. Ziton, Yoav (June 16, 2025). "The Navy intercepted for the first time drones launched from Iran using the Barak Magen anti-aircraft missile system". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 6, 2025.
19. Dvori, Nir (June 20, 2025). "For the first time: The "Barak" system was deployed on land and intercepted a UAV". N12 . Retrieved September 6, 2025.
20. "Israeli Navy to begin installing Barak 8 on Sa'ar 4.5 corvettes | IHS Jane's 360". janes.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
21. זZaken, Dani (February 13, 2022). "Huge deal of more than half a billion dollars for Israel Aerospace Industries in Morocco". Globes . Retrieved September 6, 2025.
22. Saballa, Joe (February 15, 2022). "Israel, Morocco Sign $500 Million Air Defense Deal". The Defense Post. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
23. Aamari, Oussama (August 11, 2023). "Morocco Receives First Shipments of Israel's Barak MX Defense System". Morocco World News. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
24. Eyal Bogoslavsky, Colombia Purchases Barak MX Missiles from IAI, Israel Defense, January 2, 2023
25. Shmuel Elmas, Din (November 13, 2023). "The country that purchased air defense from IAI for $1.2 billion was revealed". Globes . Retrieved September 6, 2025.
26. Frantzman, Seth J. (December 24, 2024). "Israel signs $583 million deal to sell Barak air defense to Slovakia". Breaking Defense. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
27. "Izraelský systém BARAK MX uspěl na Slovensku". czdefence.cz (in Czech). Retrieved September 6, 2025.
28. Arkin, Dan (August 30, 2024). "Slovakia purchases six Barak MX air defense systems from Israel Aerospace Industries". israeldefense.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 6, 2025.
29. Azoulay, Yuval (December 23, 2024). "Huge deal for IAI: Will supply Slovakia with air defense systems for 2 billion shekels". Calcalist (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 6, 2025.
30. Amit, Hagi (December 23, 2024). "Israel Aerospace Industries signed a 2 billion shekel deal with Slovakia". The Marker (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 6, 2025.
31. Sharaf, Avi (December 5, 2024). "Cyprus purchased an advanced Barak-MX air defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 6, 2025.
32. Kambas, Michele (December 5, 2024). "Cyprus takes delivery of Israeli air defence system, report says". Reuters. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
33. "Σε υπηρεσία το BARAK MX στην Κύπρο". Δούρειος Ίππος. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.

External links

• On the official website of Israel Aerospace Industries:
  • Barak MX
  • Barak SR
  • Barak MR
  • Barak LR
  • Barak ER