These are following air defence systems currently used by Indian armed forces:
Anti-aircraft gun systems
L-70 air defence gun:The L-70 air defence gun forms the backbone of the air defence system of Indian Army. In 2007, India’s Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) signed for the second upgrade of the 40mm L-70 guns inducted by the Indian army in the early 1960s. The guns are currently produced by ordnance factories under license from the Swedish company. Over 600 such guns are currently in the army’s inventory. Though India’s armed forces are increasingly opting for missile-based air defence systems, the army wants to retain gun-based systems as well. The 40-mm single-barrel weapon, the original version of which dates back to the World War-II has been in service with the Indian Army for about 45 years.
ZU-23-2B guns.This anti-aircraft gun system comprises twin 23mm cannons on a towed two-wheel carriage. The Soviet origin ZU-23 has been in service for over 30 years. Though primarily an air defence weapon, these twin-barrel rapid firing guns have been consistently used by Indian Army in border conflicts.
These vintage anti-aircraft guns that form the mainstay of the Army’s air defence network are soon to be replaced.
The Indian Army wants its new guns to have an effective range of at least 3,500 meters with the ability to engage targets flying at speeds more than 300 meters per second. The guns should have the capability to engage targets with or without a fire-control radar.
Besides the L-70 and ZU-23, other anti-aircraft systems like the OSA-AK, SA-9, ZSU-23-4 Schilka have been around for about three decades and only some cosmetic modifications to these systems have been undertaken.
Anti-aircraft gun and missile systems
SCHILKA:A self-propelled weapon system and designed to fight primarily tactical aircraft and helicopters.
IGLA:A short-range man-portable air defence [missile] system. Igla 19K310 (SA-16 Gimlet). A further development from the SA-14 and SA-7 series of man-portable surface-to-air missiles.
TUNGUSKA-M:A gun missile system. The advent of tactical precision-guided weapons (PGW) called for the introduction of a missile channel to fight aircraft and helicopters before they could fire PGW. As a consequence, the renowned Tunguska AD gun-missile system was designed by Russia and acquired by Indian Army. It can engage targets while stationary and on the move, using missiles for long-range targets and guns forclose-in defence.
These air defence systems were all acquired from the Soviet (now Russian/Ukrainian) companies.
The Indian Army has indicated to the Indian defence ministry that the air defence area is an area of critical concern and the current armoury should be replaced with advanced systems immediately from companies overseas.
Surface-to-air (SAM) Missiles
ZRK SD KVADRAT (SA-6 Gainful):The SA-6 Gainful is a two stage, solid-fuel, low-altitude surface-to-air missile. It has a range of 3,000 to 24,000 meters.
OSA AKM (SA-8b Gecko):It is a single-stage, solid-fuel, short-range, low-altitude, all-weather surface-to-air missile. Four command-guided missiles are carried ready to launch.
STRELA-10M3 (SA-13 Gopher):The SA-13 Gopher is a short-range, low altitude surface-to-air missile. The SA-13 missile has a maximum speed of Mach 2 and carries a five kg high explosive warhead.
STRELA-2M (SA-7B Grail):It is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude SAM similar to the US Army’s Redeye SAM. The missile had a HE warhead and passive infrared homing guidance. They are a tail-chase missile system.
The surface-to-surface missile that form the tactical artillery of Indian Army include the Brahmos cruise missile, the Prithvi missile which comes in four variants and the Agni missile with six variants.
