AFK hands over indigenous RGB versions,Kavach system to Navy

The indigenisation of the system was undertaken as a result of technology denial after the USSR disintegrated.

AFK,which is the integrator of the system,would be supplying 5,000 RGBs over the next five years,besides 4,000 Kavach variants over the next three years.

The indigenous versions will replace the Russian variants already deployed on naval vessels.

“The Indian Navy had ASW Rockets imported from erstwhile USSR. Disintegration of the USSR led to drying up of supply pipeline thereby affecting our inventory level while our ships continued to have the launchers.

Therefore,to meet our armament requirement,Ordnance Factory Board and the Indian Navy took up the challenge to indigenize these ASW rockets and achieve self-reliance in this field,” said Jhang.

The rockets have 1.5-km and 6-km range while three versions of Kavach Naval Decoy Systems have the range of 12 km,5 km and 1 km; Long Range Chaff Rocket,Medium Range Chaff Rocket and Short Range Chaff Rocket.

Kavach decoy system releases chaff made of silver coated glass fibre that forms a clutter that remains suspended so that the incoming guided threat,takes the chaff as the target. It gets locked onto the chaff instead of the actual target.

Operating in surface and underwater threat environment,it is imperative that our ships have necessary hard and soft kill systems to effectively neutralize enemy attack. The ASW and Chaff rockets provide ships with credible hard and soft kill capabilities,Rear Admiral Jhang,said.

The addition in the orderbook is expected to shoot AFK profits by Rs 100 crore a year.

Interestingly,the indigenisation also would mean cost cutting. For instance,the fuse,the most crucial component of the rocket,which was denied by USSR and which was later offered at Rs 4 lakh apiece,was developed by AFK at Rs 50,000 per piece.

“The cost of each rocket is about Rs 6-7 lakh. We are now working on the Research and Development of the next version of RGB which has a range of eight km,” said B N Singh,Sr General Manager,AFK.