India’s Gun CIWS: The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of DRDO has started work on a new Close-In Weapon System that uses a Gatling gun design. This new weapon will give the Indian Army and Air Force a strong last defence against modern air attacks. It is to stop threats right before they can hit important targets.
Many countries use systems like this already, for example the American Phalanx and the Dutch Goalkeeper. India wants its own system that can do the same work but without depending on foreign imports. The new weapon is made to destroy drones, low flying aircraft, guided bombs and even cruise missiles.
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India’s Gun CIWS: Powerful sensors
The main weapon is a multi-barrel Gatling gun that can shoot thousands of bullets in just one minute. This high speed firing gives the gun the power to stop fast moving targets in only seconds.
Along with the gun, the system will use advanced radar and electro-optical equipment so that it can automatically see, follow and destroy the threat. It will work in bad weather too, and also when visibility is low. The gun can use special programmable ammunition that changes according to the type of target, whether it is a cruise missile or even a group of swarm drones.
The design allows the weapon to cover a full 360 degrees which is very important when the threat can come from any side. ARDE is making it flexible so that both the Army and the Air Force can use it, reported Indian Masterminds. For the Army, the weapon can be mounted on trucks or armored vehicles so that it can move with the troops and protect them under the SHORAD system. For the Air Force, it can be used as a static ground based defence at key locations like air bases, radar sites and command centers.
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Big role in India’s air defence
Right now India uses Russian-made systems like the AK-630 on ships for close defence. This new Gatling system is a big step forward because it will fit into the layered air defence plan on land. Long range and medium range missiles will try to stop enemy weapons first, but if something gets close, this Gatling gun system will act as the last line of defence.
