According
to an official statement by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO), the missile was "successfully flight tested against a flying target
in a range in Israel" by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in the presence
of DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed Forces." The
LRSAM system is jointly developed by DRDO and IAI Israel, under an agreement signed
some years ago. The Israelis call it Barak 8. All the systems including
the radar, communication launch systems, and homing warheads performed as expected
and hit the moving target directly and damaged it, the statement said adding that
the system has been developed for both the Israel Defence Forces and Indian Armed
Forces. The quantum of investment by either side has not been disclosed.
But Indian scientists are believed to have contributed software while the Israelis
the critical seeker. The LRSAM reportedly has a range exceeding 70 km and can
be deployed over both land and sea. Significantly, Scientific Advisor to
Defence Minister Dr Avinash Chander witnessed the test along with IAI President
Joseph Weiss, some top officials of Israel Defence Forces and representatives
of Elta Systems and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. Said Mr Weiss after the test;
The advanced capability that the system has demonstrated in this complex test
is further evidence of IAI's strength and groundbreaking abilities. The Barak-8
system is one of the company's main growth engines." Dr Chander termed
the event as a milestone in the cooperation between two countries in developing
advanced weapon systems. |