The Indian Army, as part of the efforts to secure the population centres and places of worship close to the border with Pakistan, is reportedly planning to procure six truck-mounted AK-630 systems from a state-owned firm.
According to news agency ANI, the Army has floated a request for proposal (RPF) regarding this.
While the Russian origin fully automatic close-in weapon system (CIWS) is originally designed for naval defence, the scope of this gun is now expanding beyond the traditional deployment and is seen as one of the pillars of Mission Sudarshan Chakra. The government had recently said under Mission Sudarshan Chakra by 2035, critical national sites will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and powerful weapon systems.
"Indian Army Air Defence has floated an RFP for the procurement of six AK-630 Air Defence Gun Systems with Advanced Weapon and Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL). The system sought is a 30mm multi-barrel mobile air defence gun system with a high rate of fire," ANI quoted defence officials as saying.
These gun systems will be mounted on a trailer and towed by a high mobility vehicle.
The defence sources said these guns, which will have a range of up to 4km and a firing rate of 3,000 rounds per minute, will be used to thwart the threat from unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket, artillery and mortar (URAM) along the International Border and Line of Control.
