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Mint
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Barak Magen: What to know about Israel's new ‘Lightning Shield' against Iranian drones
In a significant milestone for Israeli naval defense, the Israeli Navy successfully intercepted eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran on June 15 using the 'Barak Magen' aerial defense system—marking its first operational use in live combat. The 'Barak Magen' interceptor, installed aboard the INS Sa'ar 6 missile ship, was deployed to neutralise aerial threats from Iran as part of Israel's ongoing defensive operations amid escalating regional hostilities. The advanced system is designed to counter a broad spectrum of threats, including: High-trajectory projectiles According to the Israeli military, the Navy's missile ship flotilla—operating under Flotilla 3—intercepted a total of eight UAVs overnight, bringing the total number of drone threats neutralized by the Navy since the beginning of the current conflict to approximately 25. These UAVs were assessed to be targeting civilian areas in Israel, underscoring the persistent threat posed by Iranian long-range drone operations. The naval response was closely coordinated with the Israeli Air Force, allowing for efficient real-time threat tracking and layered interception. Barak Magen integrates advanced radar with vertical missile launchers and multiple interceptor types: MRAD (short/medium range), LRAD (mid/long range), and ER (extended range). ER: potentially up to ~150 km Threats addressed: IP-capable against UAVs, cruise missiles, shore‑to‑sea missiles, high-trajectory munitions, and ballistic projectiles. Barak Magen complements Israel's existing systems (Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow, plus future laser Iron Beam), adding a powerful naval tier to national defense. The Israel-Iran conflict sharply escalated on Monday as Israeli airstrikes rocked central Tehran, prompting mass evacuations and cutting off state TV broadcasts. Israel said the strikes targeted Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure, claiming to have gained 'full aerial superiority' over Tehran. Over 330,000 residents were told to evacuate; bombs hit Iran's state-run TV station mid-broadcast, injuring staff. Israeli PM Netanyahu said the campaign has set back Iran's nuclear ambitions 'by a very, very long time.' US President Donald Trump called for Tehran's immediate evacuation, warning, 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.' In retaliation, Iran launched over 370 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing 24 people and injuring over 500 in Israel. Major cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa were hit. Iran reported 224 deaths and 1,277 injuries, though rights groups estimate over 400 killed, including civilians. Flights across the region remain grounded, fueling fears of a wider regional war.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Barak Magen: Israel Deploys Its 'Lightning Shield' For The First Time To Intercept Iranian Drones
Last Updated: The interceptor, which is dubbed 'Barak Magen' – simply meaning "lightning shield" – is installed on the INS Sa'ar 6 missile ship of the Israeli Navy Israel said it deployed its 'Barak Magen' aerial defence system and long-range air defence for the first time as it intercepted Iranian drones from its missile ships. On Monday (June 16), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the navy's missile ships intercepted eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones, launched from Iran. This was done using the 'Barak Magen' aerial defence system for the first time. The interceptor, which is dubbed 'Barak Magen' – simply meaning 'lightning shield" in Hebrew – is installed on the INS Sa'ar 6 missile ship. According to the IDF, it is capable of countering a wide range of threats, including UAVs, cruise missiles, high-trajectory threats, shore-to-sea missiles, and more. 'Overnight, the Israeli Navy's missile ship flotilla intercepted eight UAVs launched from Iran. Since the beginning of the operation, it has intercepted approximately 25 unmanned aerial vehicles that posed a threat to the civilians of the State of Israel," the IDF said in a press release posted on their official website. The IDF said the missile ships of Flotilla 3, in coordination with the Israeli air force, continue to be deployed 'across all arenas and serve as a force multiplier in the mission of defending the skies of Israel". Iran reportedly sent over 100 UAVs on Monday, all of which were intercepted by Israel. WHAT IS THE 'BARAK MAGEN'? The 'Barak Magen' is a highly sophisticated and advanced aerial defence system developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which is capable of detecting and taking down a range of airborne threats. John Hannah, senior fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) told Fox News Digital that the Barak Magen 'significantly enhances" the air and missile defence architecture of the Israeli navy. 'The Barak Magen is simply another arrow in the expanding quiver of Israel's highly sophisticated and increasingly diverse multi-tiered missile defense architecture – which was already, by leaps and bounds, the most advanced and experienced air defense system fielded by any country in the world," Hannah was quoted. According to information available, this latest air defence system has a mix of radar, command systems, and a set of smart vertical launchers, including short-range, medium-range, and long-range interceptors. They can all be launched from the ship to hit incoming threats from any direction. The missiles used are Barak MRAD for short and medium ranges (up to 35 km); Barak LRAD for medium to long ranges (up to 70 km); and Barak ER for extended ranges (up to 150 km). The system's first live trial was in November 2022 aboard the INS Magen, which is a Sa'ar 6-class warship, as reported by military intelligence portal Janes. First Published: June 17, 2025, 17:45 IST
