SOURCE: AFI
As the war in Ukraine rages on, there is an increasing demand for artillery, tank, and mortar shells. To meet this demand, Western countries have been sourcing ammunition from various sources around the world, including India.
One of the most intriguing sources of ammunition for Ukraine has been India, which was likely one of the non-EU suppliers for the Czech ammunition initiative. Photos of Indian-made tankers with high-explosive fragmentation ammunition have become more frequent in Ukraine.
A correlation can be observed between the increased appearance of Indian ammunition in Ukraine and the statements made by the Czech Prime Minister regarding the delivery of the first batch of ammunition. It appears that besides 155 mm caliber artillery ammunition, Ukraine has also received 125 mm caliber tank ammunition from India.
The shells pictured in the photo are likely from the state factory Munitions India Limited (MIL). These are simple high-explosive fragmentation shells, which are a licensed version of the Soviet OF26.
The complete shell, including the propellant charge, weighs 33 kg, while the shell itself weighs 23 kg. It is equipped with an impact fuse and is filled with approximately 3 kg of TNT.
When detonated, the shell generates around 2,000 fragments, with a deadly impact range of about 40 meters. However, this effectiveness is limited to open terrain, as earth fortifications can provide good protection against such shells.
To address this limitation, many countries are now developing or researching programmable ammunition that detonates in the air above trenches. Unfortunately, Russia and other foreign users of this ammunition are still lagging behind Western countries in this area.