SOURCE: AFI
In a decisive response to Pakistan’s aggressive drone incursion over Jammu last night, the Indian Army’s upgraded L-70 air defense guns, modernized by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), neutralized the majority of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched across the Line of Control. The successful interception underscores the technological prowess of India’s indigenous defense upgrades, particularly the revamped L-70 gun system, which has emerged as a critical asset in countering modern aerial threats.
Originally a Swedish-designed 40mm anti-aircraft gun from the 1940s, the L-70 has been transformed by BEL into a state-of-the-art air defense system tailored for 21st-century warfare. The upgradation program replaces the gun’s outdated hydraulic drives with all-electric drives, enhancing reliability, precision, and maintenance efficiency. These electric drives enable faster response times and smoother operation, crucial for tracking and engaging agile targets like drones.
The upgraded L-70 now features an Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS) with an advanced optronic sight, incorporating an Eye-Safe Laser Range Finder (LRF), Day Light Television (DLTV), and Thermal Imager (TI). This combination provides day-and-night targeting capabilities, ensuring accurate detection and engagement of low-flying threats, even in adverse weather conditions. The optronic suite’s thermal imaging capability was particularly effective in last night’s operation, allowing gunners to spot and track drones in the dark.
A standout feature of the upgraded L-70 is its autonomous ballistic computation system, which performs round-to-round corrections based on muzzle velocity and tilt. This ensures pinpoint accuracy, compensating for environmental factors and gun wear, making each shot more effective. The system’s ability to autonomously calculate ballistic trajectories reduces the cognitive load on operators, allowing them to focus on threat assessment and engagement.
Additionally, the gun now operates silently, powered by batteries, which eliminates the noise signature of traditional hydraulic systems. This feature enhances stealth during operations, making it harder for adversaries to locate the gun’s position. The silent operation proved advantageous in Jammu, where rapid and discreet engagements were critical to maintaining tactical superiority.
The upgraded L-70 is designed to interface seamlessly with Target Acquisition (TC) and Fire Control (FC) radars, enabling real-time data sharing and coordinated defense. This integration allows the gun to receive precise target information from networked radar systems, enhancing its ability to engage multiple threats simultaneously. Last night’s defense of Jammu showcased this capability, as the L-70 units worked in tandem with Indian air defense radars to track and neutralize Pakistani drones before they could reach their intended targets.
The upgraded L-70 and Schilka units outperformed even advanced systems like the S-400 in neutralizing the drone swarm over Jammu, demonstrating their effectiveness against low-cost, high-volume aerial threats. The L-70’s electro-optical systems and digital targeting capabilities were lauded for their precision, with some users claiming they surpassed Israel’s Iron Dome in this specific scenario. While these claims require further validation, the L-70’s performance has undoubtedly bolstered confidence in India’s indigenous defense solutions.
The Pakistani drone and missile attacks on May 8, 2025, targeted multiple locations in Jammu, including the airport, Akhnoor, and Kishtwar, triggering blackouts and air raid sirens across the region. This escalation followed India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, prompted by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The Indian Army’s swift deployment of upgraded L-70 guns, alongside other air defense systems, ensured that most of the Pakistani drones were neutralized mid-air, preventing significant damage or casualties.
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