IAI to supply Israeli warships with Barak-8 missile defense systems

Israel Aerospace Industries, the nation’s largest aerospace and defense firm, said it has entered an agreement with the Israeli navy to equip its Saar-6 Corvette warships with advanced defense systems to protect strategic facilities at sea.

IAI did not provide financial details of the deal but said it will provide the navy with its Barak-8 missile defense system, which is already being used by the Israeli navy as well as the Indian navy and air force. The system, which integrates digital radar, command and control systems, launchers, interceptors and connectivity, provides aerial defense against a wide range of threats from the air, sea or land, the company said in a statement. It has been developed to work together with other existing systems.

“Barak-8 is one of IAI’s leading systems and a growth engine for IAI in sales to its customers,” said Joseph Weiss, IAI CEO & president, in a statement. The firm has entered into a number of contracts for the sale of the Barak-8, for a total of $5 billion over the past few years, he said.

The Barak-8 was developed by IAI in collaboration with Israel’s Defense Ministry, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization, the navies of both countries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, IAI’s Elta Group, and local industries in India, the statement said.

IAI develops and manufactures advanced systems for air, space, sea, land, cyber and homeland security.