Defence Ministry issues RFI to procure 23-mm anti-drone ammunition for Indian Army
The Indian Army is preparing to launch a deadly attack on enemy drones. In view of this, the army needs 23-mm ammunition to destroy enemy drones in the sky itself, which will be used with the existing Zu-23-mm and Shilka anti-aircraft systems, which will provide the Indian Army with point air defense for sensitive areas.
The Ministry of Defense on Thursday issued a notice (RFI) to buy 23-mm ammunition, which will be used by the Indian Army to destroy drone systems. For this, the Ministry of Defense has sought information from Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and private companies under the "Make in India" scheme. However, the cost and quantity have not been disclosed.
There will be no mercy for those who violate the airspace
According to the RFI, the Defence Ministry said that the 23-mm ammunition will be used along with the existing Zu-23-mm and Shilka weapon systems to destroy enemy drones violating Indian airspace. The Zu-23-mm is a Soviet-era gun system, mostly deployed along the border and to protect military bases in sensitive areas of the border.
Technical and business process
Under this project, companies will have to undergo a technical and commercial evaluation process, which will be on a “no cost, no commitment” basis. The cost negotiation committee will decide the lowest bidder (L1) for final selection.
Deadlines and terms
The last date for submission of RFI is February 17, 2025, while a pre-submission meeting will be held on February 16. All vendors must have valid defence industrial licences and documents related to explosive manufacturing. The ammunition must conform to the technical standards of existing weapon systems and must be capable of operating at temperatures of -25°C to +45°C and be operable at temperatures of +30 degrees to +50 degrees. The ammunition must have a shelf life of at least 10 years.
Why is this ammunition necessary for the Indian Army?
The Zu-23 mm and Shilka systems are capable of intercepting enemy aircraft and drones. These anti-aircraft systems can fire up to 800 rounds per minute. Through these, the army ensures the security of sensitive places.
This move is an important step towards strengthening the operational preparedness of the Indian Army and to deal with emerging threats.
Currently, the Indian Army is using the Zu-23-mm and Shilka weapon systems, which are high-fire rate anti-aircraft systems. These systems have been deployed to provide point air defence for sensitive areas and vital points.
The gun will be manually controlled
These gun systems use 23-mm Armour Piercing Incendiary Tracer (APIT) and High Explosive Incendiary Tracer (HEIT) ammunition. Both types of ammunition have low hit reliability as these guns are manually controlled and the ammunition causes damage or destruction on impact.