Armenia Interested in Israeli-Indian MR-SAM Air Defense System

Armenia has shown special interest in the "Barak 8" missile defense system, which is a joint project of India and Israel and is also known as the LR-SAM or MR-SAM system. According to reports by "Armenpress", this information was conveyed to "Bulgarian military".

"As Armenia gradually distances itself from reliance solely on Russian weapon suppliers, Yerevan is pursuing a more favorable domestic and international policy. Reports indicate that Armenia is particularly interested in the Barak 8 missile defense system, a collaborative project between India and Israel," the article stated.

The Indo-Israeli "Barak 8" missile, designed to provide reliable air defense against various aerial threats, is a development by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The missile is part of a larger system that includes multifunctional control and threat warning radar, command and control systems, and mobile launchers.

Regarding its dimensions, the Barak 8 missile measures approximately 4.5 meters in length and about 0.225 meters in diameter. It weighs around 275 kilograms, making it a relatively light missile that can be utilized across various platforms, including naval vessels.

The article noted that Armenia is searching for more modern and efficient analogs of "ground-to-air" class missile systems currently used by the Armenian army. Currently, Armenia operates the S-300 missile defense system, which is considered one of the primary equivalents to the Barak 8 in terms of capabilities.

According to sources from Bulgarian military, Armenia has acquired the 9K33 "Osa" missile system. "Although it is older than the Tor-M2KM, the 9K33 'Osa' remains effective in providing short-range air defense against aircraft and helicopters. It is a self-propelled system that enhances operational flexibility and rapid deployment capabilities," the article stated.

The article also mentioned that Armenia has expressed interest in the enhanced version of India's "Akash" missile system, the Akash-NG. "The Indian government has not yet confirmed the production of Akash-NG. This means that if Armenia wishes to acquire Akash-NG, it could take at least three years. Considering these factors, Armenia is weighing the options between MR-SAM and Akash-NG. Sources from IDRW.org report that MR-SAM is currently given priority due to its immediate availability and established production capabilities," the article concluded.