Barak (, lightning) is an Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to be used as a ship-borne point-defense missile system against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.

Design

The Barak SAM system is designed to replace or complement gun-based CIWS platforms, such as the Phalanx CIWS, with a more flexible and longer-range SAM. The missiles are mounted in an eight cell container (which requires little maintenance) and are launched straight up. The Barak SAM system's launcher uses a compact vertical launching system, with an 8-cell module weighing 1700 kg. Fire control is provided by an equally compact C3I system that weighs 1300 kg, which can either operate independently or in conjunction with other on-board sensors. Its C3I radar system provides 360-degree coverage and the missiles can take down an incoming missile as close as 500 m away from the ship. Each Barak system (missile container, radar, computers and installation) costs about $24 million. The system is designed to defend against aircraft and anti-ship missiles, including sea-skimming missiles.

Flight test

The missile was tested on 24 March 2017 by the Indian Navy from INS Vikramaditya during Operation Readiness Inspection in the Arabian Sea.

Operators

Indian Barak Missile scandal

On 23 October 2000, contracts were signed between the Government of India to procure seven Barak 1 systems for a $199.50 million and 200 missiles for $69.13 million reportedly over the objections of various groups, including A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. While some objections were of a procedural nature, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar was investigated for why the objections that the deal was overpriced and processed on a single-tender basis were not considered. On 24 December 2013, after investigating for more than seven years, the Central Bureau of Investigation closed the case and filed a report in court that it did not find any evidence on the allegations. A day before, on 23 December, Minister of Defence A. K. Antony approved the procurement of an additional 262 Barak 1 missiles for inr 8800000000.