Armament Research and Development Establishment

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Armament Research & Development Establishment
Established1958
Director A Raju, O.S.
AddressArmament PO, Pashan,
Pune-411 021
Location Pune, Maharashtra
18°32′8.99″N73°47′59.71″E / 18.5358306°N 73.7999194°E / 18.5358306; 73.7999194
Operating agency
 DRDO
Website ARDE Home Page

In India, the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Pune, it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of conventional armaments.

Contents

History

ARDE was established in 1958, with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in the field of Armaments. ARDE started working from a rudimentary facility within the campus of Ammunition Factory, Khadki of the Ordnance Factory Board. Personnel were drawn from the erstwhile Technical Development Establishment (Weapons) located in Jabalpur and Technical Development Establishment (Ammunition) at Khadki of the Indian Ordnance Factories.

In 1966, ARDE moved to its present location at Pashan, on the outskirts of Pune, next to the National Chemical Laboratory, a major CSIR Laboratory.

Areas of work

ARDE's main area of research is in the design and development of Conventional Armaments for the Indian Armed Forces. This stretches over the whole gamut of research, development, prototyping, test and evaluation, and transfer of technology activities. [1] This includes basic and applied research, modeling, simulation and software development of armaments. Additionally, life extension and upgradation of in-Service equipment is also carried out.

Being a research laboratory, ARDE does not carry out large-scale production activities, except for limited scale pilot-plant production of crucial items. After an initial production, the technologies developed by it are transferred to manufacturing agencies like BEL, OFB and other manufacturers. In this capacity, ARDE supervises the Transfer of Technology to these plants, and aids in initial productionization and Quality Assurance of these products.

With the Indian Armed Forces using many weapons from foreign vendors, it is necessary to integrate them and make them compatible with other existing systems in service. ARDE is involved in advising the Services regarding induction and indigenisation of Weapon Systems of Foreign Origin.

Projects and products

Brief List of some of the projects and products which are and were undertaken by ARDE are as follows

Small arms

7.62×51 1A1 self loading rifle

A BSF personnel carrying a 7.62mm 1A1 rifle in West Bengal during poll. Voters at the polls - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg
A BSF personnel carrying a 7.62mm 1A1 rifle in West Bengal during poll.

One of the earlier ARDE developments was the 7.62 mm 1A1 self-loading rifle (SLR) and its ammunition which replaced the Ishapore 2A1 bolt-action rifles (based on the 0.303 Lee–Enfield rifle) in Indian Army service then. Over a million rifles have been produced by the Rifle Factory Ishapore, and were used in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan Wars. [2]

INSAS 5.56 mm small arms family

INSAS Assault rifle INSAS rifle (Browngirl06).jpg
INSAS Assault rifle

Drawing heavily from its past experience with the 7.62mm SLR, ARDE developed the 5.56 mm Indian Small Arms System (INSAS). This helped standardize ammunition for infantry, reducing logistical problems. The infantry was earlier equipped with three types of small arms firing two types of ammunition, viz. 7.62 mm Ishapore SLR, LMG and 9 mm carbine. The INSAS family replaces all the three weapons, and consists of an Assault Rifle, a Light Machine Gun, and a Carbine Variant. The INSAS was introduced in 1998, and has since supplanted the SLR as the service rifle of the Indian Army.

ARDE 40 mm under barrel grenade launcher

The single shot ARDE 40 mm under barrel grenade launcher was developed in collaboration with Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli [3] for use with the INSAS and AK-47 rifles. Stand alone versions of the grenade launcher also exist. [4] The UBGL has an in-built safety to prevent accidental firing and a 3-point attachment for rigidity. The trigger system is, located on the side of the barrel, allowing the soldier to fire both the rifle and grenade launcher without having to change his firing posture. [4] The weapon uses a simple ladder sight mechanism and has tritium illuminated sights for night firing. The ammunition fired by the UBGL, is similar to the Milkor MGL used by the Indian Army, allowing for standardisation. [4]

ASMI machine pistol

India's first indigenous machine pistol Asmi was jointly developed by the Indian Army and ARDE. [5]

Artillery and tank guns

105 mm Indian Field Gun

Designed by ARDE in 1972, the Indian Field Gun.It became the mainstay of the army's field artillery after being introduced. [6]

Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher

The Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher was developed by the DRDO for the Indian Army. Development began in 1983. The Army had felt the need for a weapon system which could neutralize targets at ranges exceeding 30 km. To meet this demand, Pinaka MBRLS was developed. The project was a major program involving several DRDO Labs, Public and Private Sector Firms. This was one of the first major projects involving the Private sector. L&T and Tata have been given orders worth Rs. 390 crores

The system comprises a free-flight artillery rocket with different types of warheads & fuzes, a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle and a command post vehicle. The system is capable of firing in salvo mode within 48 sec, neutralizing an area of 700 x 500 m. The Pinaka was successfully used in Kargil War against Fortified Pakistani Positions in the mountains. The Army has placed an order for 6 regiments, with one already operational.[ citation needed ]

Arjun 120 mm gun

Arjun MBT Arjun MBT bump track test.JPG
Arjun MBT

The Arjun MBT's 120 mm main gun is a rifled gun developed and tested by ARDE for use with the Arjun tank. [7] The gun is one of the few rifled tank guns in modern tanks (the Challenger 2 Tank also uses a rifled gun). It is capable of firing rounds at velocities over 1650 m/s, and can sustain pressures of up to 612 MPa.

ARDE has also developed the Ammunition system for the gun, with FSAPDS being the primary kinetic energy round used. The Arjun can also use HEAT, HESH and other rounds, as well as being able to fire the LAHAT Anti-tank missile The armament and ammunition system are under current production at OFB.

DRDO 155 mm artillery gun

A DRDO project to develop a 155 mm 52 calibre indigenous howitzer.

Ejection seat

ARDE has developed an ejection seat for LCA HAL Tejas military aircraft. The British Martin-Baker ejection seat used for initial prototype is planned to be replaced with a locally developed alternative. To improve pilot safety during ejection, the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, India created a new line-charged canopy severance system, which has been certified by Martin-Baker.

Robotics

Daksh robot

Daksh is an electrically powered and remotely controlled robot used for locating, handling and destroying hazardous objects safely. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-explosive squash head</span> Ammunition type

A high-explosive squash head (HESH), in British terminology, or a high-explosive plastic/plasticized (HEP), in American terminology, is a type of explosive projectile with plastic explosive that conforms to the surface of a target before detonating, which improves the transfer of explosive energy to the target. Squash head projectiles are similar to high-explosive projectiles and are well suited to many of the same targets. However, while HESH projectiles are not armour-piercing, they can defeat armored targets by causing spall, which can injure or kill a vehicle's occupants or detonate some types of ammunition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjun (tank)</span> Main battle tank

The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army. The tank is named after Arjuna, the archer prince who is the main protagonist of the Indian epic poem Mahabharata. Design work began in 1986 and was finished in 1996. The Arjun main battle tank entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The 43rd Armoured Regiment, formed in 2009, was the first regiment to receive the Arjun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tank gun</span> Artillery used as a tanks main armament

A tank gun is the main armament of a tank. Modern tank guns are high-velocity, large-caliber artilleries capable of firing kinetic energy penetrators, high-explosive anti-tank, and cannon-launched guided projectiles. Anti-aircraft guns can also be mounted to tanks.

The INSAS, or Indian small arms system, is a family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle and a light machine gun (LMG). These weapons were developed in India by the Armament Research and Development Establishment and manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board at its various factories. The INSAS assault rifle was the standard infantry weapon of the Indian Armed Forces for almost three decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher</span> Indian long-range multiple launch rocket system

Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 60 km for Mark-I enhanced version, and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising Pakistani positions on the mountain tops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tank EX</span> Main battle tank

Tank Ex, or Karna Tank, was the code name of the prototype main battle tank developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 2002.Tank ex is based on existing Arjun and Ajeya tank. This MBT uses turret and weapon system's of the Arjun MBT and chassis of the T-72 M1(Ajeya) MBT. Tank Ex was developed as an attempt to modernize India's existing Ajeya tanks, using technology derived from the development of the Arjun MBT. It was named after Karna, the chief protagonist of the Indian epic The Mahabharata. It underwent six months of trials, but was subsequently rejected by the Indian Army. Total eight Tank Ex prototypes were built.

Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), consisting of the Indian Ordnance Factories, now known as Directorate of Ordnance was an organisation, under the Department of Defence Production (DDP) of Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India. The 41 Indian Ordnance Factories have been converted into 7 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

The Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Balasore, Orissa, India. its main purpose concerns the research and development of technologies and products in the area of medium and large caliber weapons and their ammunition. PXE is organised under the Armament and Combat Engineering Cluster of DRDO.

F-INSAS is India's programme to equip its infantry with state-of-the-art equipment, F-INSAS standing for Future Infantry Soldier As a System. However the Indian Army has decided to drop the F-INSAS program in favour of two separate projects. The new program will have two components: one to arm the future infantry soldier with the best available assault rifle, carbines and personal equipment, such as helmets and bulletproof vests. The second component is the Battlefield Management Systems (BMS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern Sub Machine Carbine</span> Type of submachine gun

The Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC), also known as Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC) until 2014, is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, select fire submachine gun designed to chamber the 5.56×30mm MINSAS cartridge. It was designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and by Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited. It was intended as a replacement for the 9mm Sterling submachine gun in service with the Indian Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle</span> British version of the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle

The L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), officially "Rifle, 7.62mm, L1A1", also known by the Canadian designation C1A1 or in the US as the "inch pattern" FAL, is a British version of the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle. The L1A1 was produced under licence and has seen use in the Australian Army, Canadian Army, Indian Army, Jamaica Defence Force, Malaysian Army, New Zealand Army, Rhodesian Army, Singapore Army, and the British Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRDO Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System</span> Indian 155 mm howitzer

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems and Kalyani Strategic Systems. Bharat Forge, Tata Power SED and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India are manufacturing partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli</span> Defence Production Company of India

Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli (OFT), also called Ordnance Factory Trichy, is a small arms factory operated by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited based in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, which was previously part of Ordnance Factory Board of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The company is headed only by an IOFS officer called General Manager (ex officio Additional Secretary to Government of India) who is the Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the overall management of the company. OFT is the largest small arms manufacturing company of India and has the most varied range.

Ordnance Factory Medak (OFMK), previously called Ordnance Factory Project Medak (OFPM) while in its development stage, is a factory owned by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, a company that manufactures armoured vehicles and was one of the 41 Indian ordnance factories under the erstwhile Ordnance Factories Board of the Ministry of Defence, controlled by Government of India. It is spread over an area of 3023 acres and has an employee strength of about 3000 personnel. The company is headed only by an IOFS officer called General Manager who is the Chief Executive Officer responsible for the overall management of the company and is the main judicial authority. OFMK is the only manufacturer of Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARDE 40 mm under barrel grenade launcher</span> Grenade launcher

The 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, is a single shot grenade launcher developed by ARDE and Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli for use with the INSAS and AK-47 rifles used by the Indian Army. Stand alone versions of the grenade launcher exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System</span> Assault rifle

Multi Calibre Individual Weapon System (MCIWS) is an assault rifle developed in India by the Armament Research and Development Establishment, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It was first seen at the DEFEXPO 2014 exhibition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASMI</span> Submachine gun

The Asmi is an Indian prototype submachine gun. It was designed and developed in 2020 by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, but has not been put into service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAMHO</span> Indian anti-tank guided missile

The SAMHO is an Indian gun-launched anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) for the Arjun tanks of the Indian Army. Originally intended to be fired from the 120 mm rifled gun of Arjun, the DRDO plans to make it compatible with the T-90 tanks of the Indian Army, which have a 125 mm smoothbore gun. The SAMHO has a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) tandem-charge warhead designed to defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA) protection of modern armoured vehicles and tanks. The SAMHO is a multi-purpose anti-armour guided missile effective against tanks and low flying attack helicopters.

This article consists of projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

References

  1. ↑ ARDE Areas of Work [ dead link ]
  2. ↑ ARDE Products and Technologies Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) developed by the ARDE for the 5.56mm INSAS rifle". Ajaishukla Blogspot. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Under Barrel Grenade Launcher 40 mm". Ordnance Factories Board. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "DRDO's Pune facility and Army develop first indigenous 9mm machine pistol 'Asmi'". The Indian Express. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (29 June 2010). "155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray". Business Standard . New Delhi, India. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "120 Millimetre MBT Arjun Armament System". DRDO Technology Focus. 10 (1). February 2002. Archived from the original on 19 June 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007..(DRDO webpage with technical Details of the Arjun Tank Gun).
  8. ↑ Kulkarni, Prasad (28 November 2008). "Daksh could be useful in Mumbai operations". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
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