PM witnesses 'Barak' test

On Board INS Virat, May 6 (UNI) The Indian Navy successfully carried out trials of the Israeli 'Barak' Missile System off the western coast in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late last night.

The PM watched in rapt attention from on board INS Virat as a missile launched from missile frigate INS Gomti was effectively countered by a 'Barak' shot from another guided missile frigate INS Ganga.

The Barak Weapon System is a highly advanced ship-borne anti-missile-missile point-defence missile system, as well as an anti-air/anti-surface gunnery control system. The Isreali-made system is highly effective against anti-ship sea-skimming missiles and aerial threats.

The clash of the two missiles lit up the night sky as the PM -- having spent a day out with the Navy on board the aircraft carrier INS Virat -- witnessed night operations along with Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh, MOS in the PM's Office Prithviraj Chavan, Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutta.

As part of his 'day out with the Navy', the PM witnessed an awe inspiring demonstration of the capabilities -- underwater, at sea and in the air -- of the Western Fleet -- considered the swordarm of the Indian Navy.

On display for the Prime Minister were the Navy's ''silent killers undersea'' -- its submarines, and the surface-to-surface 'Uran' antiship cruise missile firing as well as rocket firings.

Six Sea Harrier fighter aircraft took off from the 170-metre flight deck of INS Virat as Prime Minister keenly watched from the observation the deck.

UNI DG HS KN1814