SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Army is moving forward with plans to modernize its infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) by procuring air burst ammunition for the 30mm cannon guns on the BMP-2 and BMP-2K vehicles. This ammunition will provide the Army with enhanced capabilities to neutralize aerial threats like drones, which are increasingly being employed in combat and surveillance missions by adversaries.
The Indian Army operates approximately 2,900 BMP-2/2Ks, and the new ammunition will be tailored to operate across the diverse terrains and climatic conditions in which the Indian Army functions, from scorching deserts to high-altitude cold regions.
The rise of drone warfare has led to an urgent need for modern countermeasures. Traditional ammunition fired from the BMP-2’s 30mm 2A42 cannon is primarily effective against ground-based targets. However, drones, especially smaller and agile models, present a more complex challenge. Airburst ammunition is designed to explode at a pre-set distance in mid-air, creating a cloud of lethal fragments capable of destroying such aerial targets.
Airburst ammunition differs from conventional rounds in that it can be programmed to explode at a specific point in its flight path, rather than on impact. Here’s how the system works:
- Target Detection and Fire Control System: The target, typically a drone, is detected either by the vehicle’s existing fire control system or external sensors like radars. These systems calculate the distance and speed of the target.
- Programming the Shell: Before the shell is fired, the fire control system programs the air burst ammunition by transmitting data such as the distance to the target. This programming happens in real-time, ensuring that the shell will detonate at an optimal point in its trajectory to maximize damage.
- Air Burst in Flight: As the round approaches the drone or aerial target, it explodes mid-air, creating a high-density fragmentation pattern. These fragments spread over a wide area, increasing the likelihood of hitting and neutralizing the drone, even if it is fast-moving or difficult to hit directly.
- Wide Applicability: The air burst ammunition is fired from the 30mm 2A42 cannon mounted on BMP-2/2K vehicles. These vehicles are already equipped with this cannon, meaning that they can be easily adapted to fire the new ammunition. The ammunition is also designed to work effectively in extreme conditions—from the hot and dusty deserts of Rajasthan to the freezing heights of Ladakh, ensuring that the army’s operational requirements are met.
To meet this urgent requirement, the Indian Army has invited OEMs and vendors to propose products that can be manufactured in India under the government’s “Make in India” initiative. The goal is to find solutions that can be integrated into the BMP-2/2K platforms quickly and efficiently, while also ensuring that the ammunition is produced domestically.
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