By Staff Correspondent
In yet another boost to ‘Make-In-India’ in defence, the Indian Navy has received the nation’s first fully indigenous 30mm High-Explosive ammunition. The development is historic because it is the first time such ammunition has been manufactured inside the country for the Indian Armed Forces. The ammunition will feed the navy’s AK-630 guns, fitted on warships. The company behind this significant milestone is Nagpur-based Economic Explosives Limited, a part of Solar Group. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, received the first consignment from Solar Group’s Chairman and Managing Director Satyanarayan N. Nuwal.
Never before has an order like this been placed with the Indian Private sector, which required the delivery of complete gun ammunition. What makes this deal even more unique is the rapid pace at which it was completed. Economic Explosives Ltd delivered the order to their client, the Indian Navy, within a year of the propellant being sourced from the Ordnance Factory Bhandara, setting a precedent for the Indian Defence industry to follow.
VAdm. Ghormade expressed the importance of this development and spelt out what it means for the nation, “This is a major achievement for the country that private industry has developed fully indigenous ammunition. It has been done in 12 months, and all components are indigenous.” The Indian Navy has sailed ahead in its pursuit of self-reliance in defence by fostering industry-provided technical support in finalising drawings, design specifications, inspection tools, and proof and testing ammunition. “With this collaborative approach, the Indian Navy has also successfully developed an alternate supply source for 30mm HE ammunition,” the navy conveyed.
The company conveyed its jubilance over the development to IA&D which sets an industry precedence for absolute self-reliance. VAdm. Vineeth Bakhshi (r), who formerly commanded INS Shivaji and is now an independent naval affairs analyst, told this correspondent that the development is an “excellent initiative” and has been described as a “bang for the buck!”
Economic Explosives Ltd is a non-govt company established on 16 August 1995 majorly involved in Manufacturing metals, chemicals, and products thereof. Solar Group, the parent company of Economic Explosives Ltd, was founded in 1995 and has remained a significant player in the defence and industrial explosives sector.
