Israel To Supply Long-Range Missile Defence Systems For Indian Navy's Four Ships

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has won an additional $630 million contract to supply long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) defense systems for four ships of the Indian navy.

The contract will be carried out for the first time with India’s Bharat Electronics (BEL), which functions as the main contractor in the project as part of India’s “Make in India” policy, various media reported Sunday.

Prior to the contract taking place, LRSAM was tested last week in India aboard an Indian Navy ship to demonstrate the system's operational capabilities with an original target.

LRSAM is an advanced air and missile defense system, a joint development by IAI and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), with the collaboration of IAI’s subsidiary ELTA, RAFAEL and various Indian companies including BEL.

The system comprises several elements, including advanced phased-array radars (MFSTAR), command and control systems, launchers, and missiles with advanced radio-frequency (RF) seekers.

The LRSAM system provides protection against a variety of aerial, naval and airborne threats and is operational in the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Israel Defense Forces.

The trial scenario started with the launch and engagement of the target. The MFSTAR radar aboard the Indian naval ship identified the airborne threat and tracked it over its flying course. The data was sent to the command center of the weapon system which launched the intercepting missile into orbit.

Having been launched, the missile navigated itself to the target. During its flight, it engaged the target, aligned its course, hit it and destroyed it.

Last month, IAI had signed deal to supply India with advanced air defense missile systems worth almost $2 billion.