Navy successfully test fires new long-range surface-to-air missile

The Indian Navy on Wednesday noon successfully carried out its maiden test of the Barak-8, a long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) from INS Kolkata, destroying dummy aerial targets at extended ranges.

The Indian Navy on Wednesday noon successfully carried out its maiden test of the Barak-8, a long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) from INS Kolkata, destroying dummy aerial targets at extended ranges.

Jointly developed by India and Israel, the Barak-8 is designed to defend against a variety of short-to-long-range airborne threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones and projectiles.(File Photo)

“Quantum jump in air defence capability of Indian Navy. LRSAMs being fitted in capital warships progressively,” the ministry of defence announced on Twitter, calling the test-fire success a significant milestone in India’s anti-missile defence capability.

Jointly developed by India and Israel, the Barak-8 is designed to defend against a variety of short-to-long-range airborne threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones and projectiles.

While two tests have been successfully conducted onboard Israeli ships, this is the first time that the test was held onboard an Indian vessel.

WATCH: India successfully test fires long-range surface-to-air missile from onboard INS Kolkata (source: Navy)https://t.co/9tg67OO9Q6

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2015

The Barak-8 also incorporates state-of-the-art phased array multi- mission radar, two-way data link, and a flexible command and control system that enables it to simultaneously engage multiple targets day and night and in all-weather conditions.

The missile system has been jointly developed by the Indian Navy, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Israel’s Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Systems, Rafael and other companies.