A Barak LR interceptor is shown being launched from the Barak MX launcher. (Israel Aerospace Industries)
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has awarded a contract to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to procure the company’s Barak MX air and missile defence system.
IAI President and CEO Boaz Levy said on 4 December that the contract provides Thailand with its “[first] medium-range air-defence capability, offering comprehensive protection against both ballistic and aerial threats“.
He added, “Barak MX was selected after successfully meeting and exceeding the stringent requirements of the Royal Thai Air Force.“
To support the RTAF’s operation of the Barak MX, IAI said it has also partnered with state-owned Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) – an RTAF-affiliated company – to provide local support and maintenance and undertake “additional tasks“.
The contract announcement follows an RTAF Directorate of Logistics notice published in November that said the RTAF had selected the Barak MX for a requirement to enhance the protection of RTAF bases and assets. The notice said it planned to purchase one initial Barak MX battery for THB3.4 billion (USD106.7 million).
The Barak MX features three principal effector types: the Barak MR (medium range), which has a maximum range of 35 km; the Barak LR (long range), which has a range of 70 km; and the Barak ER (extended range), which has a range of 150 km.
According to IAI, the Barak MX system includes a command-and-control (C2) unit, IAI’s multimission radar (MMR), launchers with surface-to-air missiles, a missile reloading vehicle, and a logistic support vehicle. The components are mounted on high-mobility platforms to enable rapid deployment.
For more information, please seeThai air force selects Barak MX
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