The Indian Navy conducted significant missile tests boosting its anti-air warfare capabilities. The first cooperative engagement firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) or Barak-8 was held on the Western Seaboard.
The firing was undertaken on the western seaboard by the INS Kochi and the INS Chennai wherein the missiles of both ships were controlled by one ship to intercept different aerial targets at extended ranges. Interestingly, one of the ships controlled the complete mission through its automated data links. The firing trials were carried out by Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
This was achieved by network-centric operations that helped to combine the capabilities of all military platforms in a formation. The MRSAMs are fitted onboard the Kolkata Class Destroyers. These would also be fitted on all future major warships of the Indian Navy.
About Barak-8:
Barak-8 also known as LR-SAM or as MR-SAM is an Indian-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and combat jets. Both maritime and land-based variants of the system exist.
It was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Israel's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Systems, Rafael and other companies. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) produces the missiles.
Barak-8 is a two-way data link (GPS S-band), Active Radar Seeker Missile, 360-degree coverage, Vertical Launch, Multiple Simultaneous Engagements, Point defence anti-ballistic missile.
Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM):
It has an intercept range between 70-100 km.
MRSAM is equipped with a modern ground-based multi-function 3D rotating active phased array radar to provide high-quality Air Situation Picture (ASP) and weapon support under adverse operational and environmental conditions.
It will be capable of operating at the extreme condition of -30deg C and an altitude of 3.5 km.