First indigenous anti-submarine rocket handed over to Navy

The first lot of 20 anti-submarine missiles, designed by the Ammunition Factory, Khadki (AFK), was handed over to the Indian Navy at a function on Tuesday. This is India's first indigenous, anti-submarine rocket.

As per AFK officials, two variants of the rocket that can strike at a range of 1.5 km and 6 km respectively have been developed. Besides, the rockets have been classified into two categories practice ones and high explosive ones. The Navy needs 3,000 such pieces.

The factory has a capacity to produce 1,000 per year. The first lot of 20 practice rockets was handed over to Rear Admiral S Kulshrestha, Director General Naval Armament Inspection, Delhi, by B N Singh, senior General Manager of AFK. "The Ammunition Factory Khadki, under the Ordnance Factory Board of Ministry of Defence, has indigenously developed an anti-submarine rocket with the Indian Navy to meet their tactical requirement. The Ministry of Defence had given the mandate to OFB to make indigenous efforts for developing new products for defence forces. To accelerate the process of in-house development of ammunition stores, the OFB set up an ordnance development centre at the AFK," said B N Singh.

Singh said the work started nearly four years back. These surface to water anti-submarine missiles can be launched from the ship and can destroy any submarine plying in a depth of 30 meters to 300 meters under the sea.

Kulshrestha applauded the synergy between OFB and the Indian Navy. "The induction of these rockets will strengthen the fire power of Indian Navy and will reduce our dependence on foreign countries. This will also enhance the value of production of the ammunition factory by more than Rs 60 to Rs 100 crore per annum," he said.

The rocket can carry up to 23 kilogram to 28 kilogram tri nitro terylene explosive. Several environmental tests have been successfully carried out on the rockets.