Air Defense

Barak LR / LRAD interceptor

Also known as
  • BARAK LR
  • BARAK LRAD
  • LRAD
  • Long-Range Air Defense System LRAD
  • LRAD long-range air-defense system
  • Long-Range Air-Defense System
  • Long Range Robust Interceptor

Barak LR, also identified in Israeli operational reporting as LRAD, is Israel Aerospace Industries' 70 km long-range interceptor in the Barak MX air and missile defense family. It combines vertical launch, a dual-pulse motor, an active RF seeker, and battle-management data links for land and naval air defense, including Barak Magen use from Israeli Navy Sa'ar 6 missile ships against Iranian-launched UAVs during the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict.

Role in Conflicts

Side
Israel

The IDF reported that Israeli Navy missile ships operationally used Barak Magen and LRAD for the first time on 16 June 2025, intercepting UAVs launched from Iran; IAI later described a Sa'ar 6 vessel using Barak Magen and its LRAD long-range interceptor against an aerial threat launched from Iran during Operation Rising Lion.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
Long-range surface-to-air interceptor
Service note
2020s-present
Designer
Israel Aerospace Industries
Designed
2010s-2020s
Produced
2020s-present
Number built
Not publicly disclosed
Developed from
Barak MX / Barak air-defense family

Specifications

Role
Long-range surface-to-air interceptor for the Barak integrated air-defense family
Range
70 km
Altitude
20 km
Propulsion
Dual-pulse rocket motor
Guidance
Active RF/radar seeker with data link between battle-management center and missile
Launch
Vertical launch with 360-degree engagement coverage
Maneuverability
50 g, according to IAI product data
Engagement roles
Point defense, area defense, and ballistic-missile defense
Warhead
IAI describes an effective warhead for robust kill; public product data does not list warhead weight
Launcher load
IAI lists eight missiles per launcher
Family range ladder
IAI lists Barak SR at 15 km, MR at 35 km, LR at 70 km, and ER at 150 km
Operating environments
Naval, land-mobile, and deployed land configurations
Targets
Fighters, UAVs, helicopters, cruise missiles, sea-skimming threats, gliding bombs, and tactical ballistic missiles
Interceptor Role

Barak LR/LRAD sits in the middle of the Barak MX range ladder. IAI's public product data gives it a 70 km reach, a dual-pulse motor, active RF guidance, and vertical launch for naval and land-based air defense.

Range tier

Long-range Barak family interceptor, above the 15 km SR and 35 km MR branches and below the booster-equipped 150 km ER branch.

Naval context

Israeli sources tie LRAD to Barak Magen on Sa'ar 6 missile ships, where it forms the longer-range shipboard air-defense layer.

Evidence limit

Direct conflict-use sourcing currently supports the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict row; pre-2025 entries here are tests, integration, and readiness milestones.

Variants

IAI presents Barak LR as one member of the Barak MX interceptor family, positioned above the SR and MR interceptors and below the booster-equipped ER interceptor.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Barak SRShort-range family member

IAI lists Barak SR as the 15 km short-range Barak MX interceptor for naval and ground-based air defense.

Sources: IAI Barak SR

Barak MRMedium-range family member

IAI lists Barak MR as the 35 km Barak MX interceptor, while Barak LR extends the family to the 70 km long-range tier.

Sources: IAI Barak MR

Barak ERExtended-range family member

IAI lists Barak ER as the 150 km extended-range branch, adding a booster to the dual-pulse interceptor architecture used in the long-range family.

Sources: IAI Barak ER

Integrated Air-Defense System

Barak LR is not a standalone battery; it is an interceptor used inside Barak-family launch, radar, and battle-management architectures.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Barak MX, Integrated air and missile defense system, Air DefenseBarak MXIntegrated air and missile defense system

IAI identifies Barak LR as one of the Barak MX interceptor options, giving the modular system a 70 km long-range tier in a family that spans SR, MR, LR, and ER interceptors.

Sources: IAI Barak MX, IAI Barak MX Naval, IAI Barak LR

Naval Launch Platform

Public Israeli reporting ties LRAD's naval role to the Barak Magen installation on Sa'ar 6 missile ships.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Sa'ar 6-class corvette, Missile corvette, Naval SystemsSa'ar 6-class corvetteMissile corvette

IDF and IAI releases document Barak Magen/LRAD use from Israeli Navy Sa'ar 6 missile ships, including pre-combat tests and 2025 operational employment against UAVs launched from Iran.

Sources: IDF Barak Magen LRAD Operational Employment, IDF INS Atzmaut LRAD Interception Test, IAI Naval Barak First Combat Action

Timeline

Barak LR / LRAD interceptor Key Events

  1. Sa'ar 6 LRAD sea test announced

    Naval News, citing IAI, reported that INS Oz test-launched a Barak LRAD interceptor from a Sa'ar 6 corvette against a target simulating an advanced cruise missile.

    Sources: Naval News Barak LRAD Sa'ar 6 Test

  2. INS Atzmaut completes LRAD interception test

    The IDF said INS Atzmaut completed a Barak Magen/LRAD interception test during the Swords of Iron War, describing the missile ship's radar and LRAD layer as part of its combat-era defensive fit.

    Sources: IDF INS Atzmaut LRAD Interception Test

  3. LRAD operationally employed against Iranian UAVs

    The IDF reported the first operational employment of Barak Magen and LRAD as Israeli Navy missile ships intercepted UAVs launched from Iran during Operation Rising Lion.

    Sources: IDF Barak Magen LRAD Operational Employment

  4. IAI describes Sa'ar 6 combat employment

    IAI described a Sa'ar 6 vessel using Barak Magen and its LRAD long-range interceptor against an aerial threat launched from Iran during the 2025 fighting.

    Sources: IAI Naval Barak First Combat Action

Media

Barak LR / LRAD interceptor Videos

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Sources