According to information published by the "Defense News" website on January 5, 2023, Colombia approved the purchase of the Israeli-made Barak MX air defense missile system produced by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) for an amount of $131.2 million.
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The Barak MX is a new modular air defense solution developed by IAI able to engage and destroy modern aerial threats. (Picture source IAI)
Citing information from Defense News, IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) has also offered the naval variant of the Barak MX to Colombia to equip five frigates the country plans to build locally under its PES program.
The Colombian Defense Ministry has a budget of approximately USD 10.9 billion, which is equivalent to roughly 12 percent of the total Colombian budget for 2022. While most of the defense budget will be designated for operational activities, such as payroll, procurement of basic goods and services, and pensions.
About four percent of the total budget (USD 528 million) will be invested in strengthening the security and strategic capacity of the Armed Forces, through the purchase of equipment, hardware, weapons, ammunition, and communication upgrades, and to carry out major scheduled maintenance or replacement for aging equipment.
In 2021 world military expenditure surpassed the two trillion US dollar mark for the first time, reaching $2113 billion. Global spending in 2021 was 0.7 percent higher than in 2020 and 12 percent higher than in 2012.
The Barak MX is an advanced air defense missile system in the Barak family that broadens the Barak into a multi-layered air defense system employing unified smart launchers carrying Short, Medium, and Extended-Range interceptors.
The Barak MX air defense missile system consists of three main components including the Battle Management Center (BMC), which creates and manages a unified multi-sensor aerial picture, coordinates the force operation networks, and manages the launch arrays. The land-based versions are available in mobile, transportable, and stationary platforms.
The Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) units of the Barak MX can launch three types of missiles including the BRAK MRAD (Short-Medium Range Missile) fitted with a single pulse rocket motor and has a maximum firing range of 35 km. The Barak LRAD is a Long-Range missile powered by a dual pulse rocket motor to reach a range of 70 km and the Barak ER (Extended Range) missile with a dual pulse rocket motor and an additional booster offers the missile to reach a range of 150 km and enhanced TBM (Theatre Ballistic Missile) capabilities.
