MoD looking for anti-drone munition to sharpen Army's air defence systems

TO BOOST DEFENCE

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: In a bid to enhance the Army's air defence systems in the wake of increasing threat posed by drones and loitering munitions, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is narrowing down on Indian manufacturers for producing anti-drone ammunition.

The MoD recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify capable Indian manufacturers for producing 23 mm anti-drone ammunition, marking another step forward towards self-reliance drive.

According to the RFI, the ammunition will be designed with the existing Zu 23mm and Schilka Weapon Systems, which are integral to the Army's air defence apparatus. The proposed 23mm anti-drone ammunition will feature advanced capabilities such as proximity or airburst fuzes, enabling detonation near airborne targets for maximum effectiveness. Additionally, the ammunition will include pre-fragmented shells designed to cause optimized damage through precise fragment dispersion.