Air Defense

Barak MX

Also known as
  • BARAK MX
  • Barak-MX
  • Barak Magen
  • Naval Barak
  • Barak LRAD
  • LRAD
  • Barak air and missile defence system

Barak MX is Israel Aerospace Industries' modular air and missile defense system for land, naval, and mobile deployment, built around networked battle management, radars, launchers, and the Barak SR, MR, LR, and ER interceptor family. Its Israeli Navy configuration is publicly described as Barak Magen on Sa'ar 6 missile ships, where IDF and IAI reporting tied LRAD interceptions to Operation Rising Lion during the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict; export reporting and official releases also document Barak MX sales or deliveries to Slovakia, Thailand, Cyprus, Morocco, and Azerbaijan.

Role in Conflicts

Side
Israel

During Operation Rising Lion, Israel fielded Barak MX-derived land and naval air-defense configurations; the IDF reported Barak Magen and LRAD use from Sa'ar 6 missile ships against Iranian UAVs, while IAI described the land Barak system as newly integrated against threats from Iran.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
Integrated air and missile defense system
Service note
Operationally fielded by the mid-2020s
Designer
Israel Aerospace Industries
Designed
2010s-2020s
Produced
2020s-present
Developed from
Barak-8 / Barak air-defense family

Specifications

Architecture
Network-centric integrated air and missile defense system with open architecture, battle management, sensors, launchers, and selectable Barak interceptors
Deployment
Land, naval, and mobile configurations
Interceptor family
Barak SR 15 km, Barak MR 35 km, Barak LR 70 km, and Barak ER 150 km
Guidance
Active RF/radar seekers with battle-management data links depending on interceptor
Sensors
Integrates multi-mission radars and multi-sensor inputs; IAI describes MMR and MF-STAR use across land and naval layouts
Naval configuration
Barak Magen is the Israeli Navy's Sa'ar 6 configuration, using LRAD for long-range shipborne interceptions
Targets
Aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, sea-skimming missiles, guided rockets, gliding bombs, and tactical ballistic missiles depending on interceptor and configuration
Launcher
Vertical-launch 360-degree coverage; IAI interceptor pages list eight missiles per naval launcher for several family members
Variants

IAI presents Barak MX as an integrated system whose launchers and battle-management architecture can use several purpose-built Barak interceptors across short, medium, long, and extended ranges.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Barak SRShort-range interceptor

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

Sources: IAI Barak SR

Barak MRMedium-range interceptor

IAI describes Barak MR as a 35 km Barak MX interceptor with vertical launch, an active radar seeker, and all-weather operation.

Sources: IAI Barak MR

Barak LR / LRAD interceptor, Long-range surface-to-air interceptor, Air DefenseBarak LRLong-range interceptor

IAI describes Barak LR as a 70 km dual-pulse interceptor for land and naval Barak air-defense configurations.

Sources: IAI Barak LR

Barak ERExtended-range interceptor

IAI describes Barak ER as the 150 km extended-range Barak MX family interceptor, adding a booster and enhanced tactical ballistic-missile capability.

Sources: IAI Barak ER

Barak MagenSa'ar 6 shipboard Barak MX configuration

IDF and IAI reporting identify Barak Magen on Israeli Navy Sa'ar 6 missile ships and document first operational Barak Magen/LRAD use against Iranian UAVs in June 2025.

Sources: IDF Barak Magen LRAD Operational Employment, IAI Naval Barak First Combat Action

Interceptor Family

Barak MX is the integrated radar, launcher, and battle-management architecture around the Barak interceptor family; the long-range LR/LRAD member has its own catalog record because it is named in Israeli operational reporting.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Barak LR / LRAD interceptor, Long-range surface-to-air interceptor, Air DefenseBarak LR / LRAD interceptorLong-range interceptor

IAI identifies Barak LR/LRAD as the 70 km long-range Barak MX interceptor, while IDF and IAI reporting tie LRAD to Barak Magen use from Sa'ar 6 missile ships.

Sources: IAI Barak MX, IAI Barak LR, IDF Barak Magen LRAD Operational Employment, IAI Naval Barak First Combat Action

Naval Carrier Platform

The Barak Magen naval configuration is documented on Israel's Sa'ar 6 missile ships, where it forms the longer-range layer of the class's air-defense fit.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Sa'ar 6-class corvette, Missile corvette, Naval SystemsSa'ar 6-class corvetteMissile corvette

IAI and IDF reporting identify Sa'ar 6 vessels as the naval platform for Barak Magen/LRAD, including pre-combat interception testing 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 MX Key Events

  1. Barak ER trial highlights extended-range branch

    Defense Update reported that IAI's Barak ER trial used a production-line Barak MX interceptor and demonstrated a 150 km extended-range capability against a ballistic target.

    Sources: Defense Update Barak ER Trial

  2. Morocco Barak MX sale reported

    Globes reported that IAI agreed a more than $500 million Barak MX air-defense deal with Morocco; this record treats the report as export context, not conflict-use evidence.

    Sources: Globes Morocco Barak MX Deal

  3. Naval Barak family intercepts Hezbollah drones near Karish

    The Times of Israel reported that Barak 8 missiles from INS Eilat shot down two Hezbollah UAVs near the Karish gas field, a pre-2025 operational milestone for the naval Barak family rather than a Barak MX conflict row in this record.

    Sources: Times of Israel Karish Drone Interception

  4. Sa'ar 6 LRAD sea test announced

    Naval News, citing IAI, reported a successful Barak LRAD launch from the Sa'ar 6-class INS Oz against a cruise-missile-like target, describing the system as part of the corvettes' defensive layer.

    Sources: Naval News Barak LRAD Sa'ar 6 Test

  5. Azerbaijan identified in reported Barak MX deal

    Globes reported that Azerbaijan was the customer behind a $1.2 billion Israeli Barak MX air-defense sale, while Azerbaijan's defense ministry separately published a Barak MX technical profile.

    Sources: Globes Azerbaijan Barak MX Deal, Azerbaijan MOD Barak MX Profile

  6. INS Atzmaut completes Barak Magen/LRAD interception test

    The IDF said the Sa'ar 6 missile ship INS Atzmaut completed a Barak Magen and LRAD interception test during the Swords of Iron War, presenting the system as ready for combat-era naval air defense.

    Sources: IDF INS Atzmaut LRAD Interception Test

  7. Cyprus partial receipt reported

    Associated Press reported, citing a senior Cypriot government official, that Cyprus had received part of its Barak MX order and expected the remaining portion soon.

    Sources: AP Cyprus Barak MX Delivery

  8. Slovakia agreement finalized

    Israel's Defense Ministry announced a 560 million euro agreement to supply IAI-produced Barak MX air-defense systems to Slovakia.

    Sources: Israel MOD Slovakia Barak MX Agreement

  9. Barak Magen and LRAD used against Iranian UAVs

    The IDF reported that Israeli Navy missile ships intercepted eight UAVs launched from Iran and that Barak Magen and LRAD were operationally employed for the first time.

    Sources: IDF Barak Magen LRAD Operational Employment

  10. IAI describes Operation Rising Lion performance

    IAI said Barak MX was deployed across land and sea during Operation Rising Lion and protected vital assets and population centers in real time.

    Sources: IAI Barak MX Proven Performance, IAI Barak Joins the Fight

  11. Thailand contract announced

    IAI announced a contract to supply the Royal Thai Air Force with Barak MX, including C2, multi-mission radar, launchers, missiles, reload and logistics vehicles, and Thai Aviation Industries support.

    Sources: IAI Thailand Barak MX Contract

  12. First Slovak delivery announced

    Israel's Defense Ministry and IAI announced delivery of Barak MX to the Slovak Air Force under the 2024 agreement, with training and operational-readiness support.

    Sources: Israel MOD Slovakia Barak MX Delivery, IAI Slovakia Barak MX Delivery

Export And Operator Context

Public procurement reporting shows Barak MX moving beyond Israeli land and naval configurations into NATO, Middle Eastern, African, and Southeast Asian air-defense programs. These entries are export and fielding context only; they do not create conflict-use rows without direct evidence for a specific war.

CountryStatusDocumented context
SlovakiaOfficial deliveryIsrael's Defense Ministry and IAI announced delivery to the Slovak Air Force under the 2024 560 million euro agreement, including training and operational-readiness support.
ThailandOfficial contractIAI announced a Royal Thai Air Force contract covering C2, multi-mission radar, launchers, surface-to-air missiles, reload and logistics vehicles, and local support with Thai Aviation Industries.
CyprusReported deliveryAssociated Press reported a senior Cypriot official confirming partial receipt of Barak MX, with the remaining order expected soon.
MoroccoReported saleGlobes reported a more than $500 million Barak MX air-defense deal with Morocco.
AzerbaijanReported sale / official profileGlobes identified Azerbaijan as the customer in a reported $1.2 billion Barak MX deal, and Azerbaijan's defense ministry separately published a Barak MX technical profile.
Media
Related Weapon Systems
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Sources