The Royal Thai Air Force is procuring the Barak MX air and missile defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The system is part of the national base protection modernization plan under the Integrated Air Defence System program. The procurement, worth around 92.4 million euros, includes a complete Barak MX unit.
The Barak MX air defense system can intercept threats such as aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at a range of up to 150 kilometers.
Thailand’s decision to invest in a high-to-medium air defense system comes amid growing regional concerns. Neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar are deploying long-range weapons, including China’s PHL-03 missile systems (130-kilometer range) and North Korea’s Scud-class ballistic missiles (300 to 700 kilometers). The increasing proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions and cruise missiles increases the need for reliable interception solutions.
Austrian Armed Forces plan procurement of air defense systems
The Barak-MX air defense system is also a possible candidate for the plans of the Austrian Armed Forcesto procure up to six batteries of short and medium-range air defense systems as part of the “Aufbauplan 2032+”. Participation in the German Sky Shield initiative is politically controversial.
Most recently, the Procurement Review Commission set up by Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner criticized the fact that media communication in the area of procurement project processing prejudiced possible later type decisions in the area of air defence. Around two billion euros have been reserved for the project in the “Aufbauplan 2032+”.
Here for further reports on Thailand’s armed forces.
