In a significant move to bolster air defence capabilities, the Indian Army is set to procure AK-630 air defence guns under Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an ambitious national security initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address. The Indian Army Air Defence has floated an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the procurement from the state-owned Advanced Weapon and Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL).

The army plans to procure six AK-630 air defence guns, according to officials.

“Indian Army Air Defence has floated an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the procurement of six AK-630 Air Defence Gun Systems with AWEIL,” defence officials told news agency ANI.

“The system sought is a 30mm multi-barrel mobile air defence gun system with a high rate of fire.”

As per reports, the weapon would be “utilised to thwart the threat from URAM (Unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket, artillery and mortar) and for the protection of key population centres and centres of faith in close proximity to the international border and Line of Control (with Pakistan).”

The gun system can be mounted on a trailer and towed by a high mobility vehicle. The weapon has an effective range of up to 4 km and a cyclic rate of fire of up to 3,000 rounds per minute.

The army conducted internal trials of the AK-630s in May, just days after the cross-border clashes with Pakistan.

It is learnt that the system performed proficiently, effectively neutralising practice aerial targets.

During the military conflict, Pakistan targeted civilians and religious buildings in border states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. A majority of the projectiles from the neighbouring country were successfully intercepted.