THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY is evaluating the Israel Aircraft Industries/Rafael Barak-1 point-defence missile for its FFG- 7 frigates.
Robert Ray, the Australian defence minister, will discuss a possible purchase during his present visit to Israel, which began on 23 April.
The Barak-1 point-defence missile is operational on the Israeli navy's Chetz missile boat. Israeli navy sources say that the missile can be used to intercept all existing anti-ship missiles. The vertically launched missile weighs 98kg and has a maximum range of 10km (5nm).
Israel Aircraft Industries has previously supplied four Boeing 707 tankers to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), while, more recently, the ELTA EL/M-2022A maritime-patrol radar was selected for the RAAF's Lockheed P-3C Orion upgrade programme.
Source: Flight International
