Page 29 - ADT JANUARY 2021 Online Magazine

by the Ammunition Factory Khadki to the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART). This is
Border Security Force (BSF) in August 2020. a missile assisted release of a lightweight Anti-Submarine Torpedo
Earlier imported by army and Ministry of Home System for ASW operations far beyond torpedo range. It was suc-
Affairs (MHA) units, the new 40 mm UBGL cessfully flight tested in October 2020. NSTL, DRDO have also
ammunition can be fired from a launcher fitted designed and developed a Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) for [ REPORT ]
under the barrel of INSAS 5.56 mm assault use against modern stealthier warships. It has successfully com-
rifles. Four varieties of this ammunition has pleted a Technology Demonstration during Technical Trials. The
been developed - 40 mm UBGL (Practice), underwater mine can be deployed from warships and submarines.
40 mm UBGL (HEAP), 40 mm UBGL (HEDP)
and 40 mm UBGL (RP). Economic Explosive Upgraded Communications
Ltd (EEL), (Solar Group) Nagpur received a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval was accorded in
contract in October 2020 for delivery of new October 2020 for the establishment of the Army Static Switched
Multi-Mode Hand Grenades that would be sup- Communication Network (ASCON) Phase IV Network at a cost of
plied to replace the army’s World War-II vintage approximately Rs. 7.8 billion. The contract was awarded to state-
hand grenade designs. EEL is to supply of 10 owned firm ITI and is to be completed by October 2023. The project
lakh Multi Mode Hand Grenades at an approx- will boost the Army’s communication network in sensitive forward
imate cost of Rs.4 billion. The new grenades operational areas, and deliver better survivability, responsiveness
were designed by DRDO/Terminal Ballistic and high bandwidth in operational scenarios. ASCON Phase IV will
Research Laboratories (TBRL). deliver high bandwidth communication to the remote operational
areas in India’s Central and Eastern Sectors and enhance commu-
The Army is also receiving new Bullet Proof nication reach to the forward locations in the Western border too.
Jackets (BPJs) and Ballistic Helmets which it The strategic and theatre area communication network will make
had ordered in two contracts placed in April, use of Internet Protocol (IP) / Multi-Protocol Label Switching
2018 and December, 2016 for 1,86,138 BPJs (MPLS) technology as compared to the existing Asynchronous
and 1,58,279 Ballistic Helmets respectively. The Transfer Mode Technology used by army communication net-
first 100,000 BPJs were delivered four months works presently. Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), Microwave Radio and
ahead schedule by Indian firm SMPP Pvt Ltd. Satellite will be used as communication media. Ahigh level of indig-
The new jackets meet the army’s GSQR 1438 enous content (approximately 80 percent) is claimed and will also
standards and feature ‘Boron Carbide Ceramic’ deliver lower Life Cycle (LCC) and upgrade costs. New Static High
lightest material for ballistic protection. Frequency (HF) Transceiver sets will now be inducted under the

New Weapons
A wide range of air and ground launched weap-
ons are today under development and following
the success of the Astra BVRAAM, the DRDO is
now developing an anti-radiation missile called
Rudram. Rudram is the first indigenously devel-
oped anti-radiation missile within the country.
The Rudram missile uses INS-GPS navigation
with a Passive Homing Head. The use of a
Passive Homing Head allows detection, clas-
sification and engagement of targets over a
wide band of frequencies as programmed. The
new weapon will initially be fitted on IAF SU-30
MKIs and used for Suppression of Enemy Air
Defence (SEAD) missions at large stand-off
ranges.
The Advanced Light weight Torpedo (ALWT)
is an anti-submarine torpedo that has also
been developed by DRDO. The ALWT can be
launched from ships, helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft. Dynamic trials including testing of the
homing and guidance logic took place in March
2020 and the ALWT has consistently achieved
good homing range with increased target range
& reduced target strength.

Another DRDO developed weapon is the

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