Israel to provide Thailand with air defense systems

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

 Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a major state-owned aerospace and defense company, said in a statement on Thursday that it will supply the Royal Thai Air Force with an advanced air-defense system.

The statement did not specify the amount of the transaction and the exact timeframe of the deployment, but several Israeli media outlets reported that the total deal is around 107 million U.S. dollars.

IAI noted that its Barak MX integrated air- and missile-defense system will give Thailand its first medium-range air-defense capability, offering comprehensive protection against both ballistic and aerial threats.

According to the statement, the system will defend Thai airspace against drones, fighter jets, cruise missiles, and missiles with ranges of up to 150 km.

The Barak MX system offers a flexible configuration for both naval and land use and provides a comprehensive response to multiple simultaneous aerial threats.

It can reach operational readiness within minutes and features advanced resilience against electronic warfare and cyber threats, along with a training system for realistic combat simulation.