The Indian Air Force on Thursday (Sept 9, 2021) is going to induct the MRSAM/Barak-8 missile system in Jaisalmer. This system has been jointly developed by India and Israel and will help the IAF in boosting its combat capabilities and protect from enemy aircraft.

Earlier this year the two countries India and Israel had successfully carried out tests at a facility in India which validated that all the components of the system were working.


Barak-8 system has been jointly designed and developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). A medium-range surface-to-air missile system has the capability to shoot down an enemy aircraft at a 50-80 km range.


It is an advanced system that provides ultimate protection against different aerial platforms including short range missiles. It has advanced phased-array radar, interceptors with advanced RF seeker, command and control, and mobile launchers. It has a two way data link.


In 2017, the IAI and India had inked a USD 1.6 billion contract for MRSAM for India’s ground forces. And the companies which have been involved in this project include Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It has been made under the `Make in India’ initiative.

The MRSAM is used by IAF and the Navy. The naval version is called LRSAM, and it is based on the Barak 8. A USD 777 million contract for seven ships was inked with state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited in 2018.


The Barak-1 system is already in service with the Indian and Israeli armed forces. This system was chosen to be enhanced into a superior air defense missile system.

It evolved into a medium range SAM for land forces and this version is called Barak-8 and this has been jointly designed and developed by ISI and DRDO, Elta Systems, Rafael, and other companies.

This system provides a 360 degree defence against various airborne threats and can engage multiple targets in all weather conditions as well as day/night. Can be used to defend against helicopters, missiles, anti-ship missiles, fighter jets, cruise missiles and UAVs.


Indian air force is one of the proposed user of KS-172 and R-37. These are the long range missiles that were designed primarily for slower, less maneuverable platforms like large transports, refueling tankers, AWACS and other C4ISTAR platforms. But these missiles are practically useless for engaging highly maneuverable fighters because the low g-tolerance of these missile don’t allow them to do so.

By rule of thumb, an AAM needs to pull atleast 4 times more g-force than the target it is engaging, something the aforementioned missiles cannot do.


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