Barak (missile)

Barak I
Barak 1
Type	Short range surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	Israel
Production history
Manufacturer	Israel Aerospace Industries & Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Specifications
Weight	98 kg
Length	2.1 m
Diameter	170 mm
Warhead	22 kg blast fragmentation warhead
Detonation mechanism	Proximity fuze
Wingspan	685 mm
Operational range	0.5-12 km
Flight altitude	5.5 km
Speed	Mach 2.1 (720 m/s)
Guidance system	Radar CLOS guidance
Launch platform	Surface Ship

Barak (Hebrew: ברק‎‎, 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.

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 utilizes a compact vertical launching system, with an 8-cell module weighing 1,700 kg. Fire control is provided by an equally compact C3I system that weighs 1,300 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 meters 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.

The Barak missile purchase was controversial in India, mainly due to allegations of defense industry corruption, and also due to allegations that the deal was over-priced and processed on a single-tender basis. The investigation of the allegations began in 2006, and were done by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which arrested several people including the Samata Party ex-treasurer R.K. Jain. By 2013, the investigations were inconclusive due to lack of evidence, and the case is likely to be closed. On 23 December 2013, India's Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defense Minister AK Antony cleared a second order of 262 Barak-I missiles for ₹880 crore (US$137 million).