The Royal Thai Air Force has signed a 3.44-billion-baht ($107-million) contract to acquire a Barak MX air defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The procurement is intended to strengthen base protection capabilities under the service’s Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) modernization program.
Thailand selected the Barak MX to address evolving threats, particularly drones and long-range missiles, Vietnamese outlet Nghe An Newspaper reported.
Medium-to-High Interception Layer
The Barak MX features interceptors with ranges of 35 kilometers (22 miles), 70 kilometers (43 miles), and up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).
Once deployed, it will add a medium-to-high interception layer to Thailand’s air defense network, reducing the burden on short-range systems and enhancing the protection of key military installations.
The system was tested in combat during Israel’s “Rising Lion” operation in June, where it successfully intercepted Iranian missile attacks.
The acquisition is particularly significant for Thailand, as neighboring Cambodia and Myanmar have reportedly fielded long-range strike capabilities, including China’s PHL-03 multiple-launch rocket system (130-kilometer/81-mile range) and North Korea’s Hwasong ballistic missiles (300–700-kilometer/186–435-mile range).
According to Nghe An Newspaper, Thailand’s land and naval forces are also considering future Barak MX acquisitions, opening the possibility of deploying the system across multiple platforms to build a joint combat air defense network.
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