New Delhi: The Indian Army has issued a tender to buy six AK-630 30 mm guns to protect population centres and religious sites close to the border of Pakistan. These high-firing guns are effective against drones.
This is being seen as a part of the Sudarshan Chakra air defence net that the government is keen to set up around the country. According to an official, this decision was taken after Pakistan carried out direct attacks on civilian infrastructure and religious sites in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab during Operation Sindoor.
“Indian Army Air Defence has floated an RFP for the procurement of six AK-630 Air Defence Gun Systems with Advanced Weapon and Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL). The system sought is a 30 mm multi-barrel mobile air defence gun system with a high rate of fire,” ANI has quoted defence officials as saying.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra is India’s plan to create a comprehensive, multi-layered, indigenous security shield by 2035, integrating surveillance, cyber security, and air defence systems to protect key installations from various enemy attacks.
This mission was launched on Independence Day in 2025 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It aims to provide both a defensive barrier and a potential offensive capability, aligning with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative to enhance self-reliance in defence technology.
This move to float the RFP came amidst continuing tensions with Pakistan. On Thursday, defence minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan over its military buildup in the Sir Creek region in the Raan of Kutch. A day later, Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi warned Pakistan against terrorist activities in India and asserted that India would not show any restraint in Operation Sindoor 2.0.
The AK-630 30 mm gun system will be mounted on a trailer and towed by a high mobility vehicle.
“AK630 will be utilised to thwart the threat from URAM (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) and will be used for the protection of key population centres and Centres of Faith in close proximity to the international border and Line of Control,” officials said.
These multi-barreled gun systems will have a range of up upto 4 km with a cyclic rate of fire of up upto 3,000 rounds per minute. Detection is achieved through an all-weather Electro-Optical Fire Control system. The systems will be gradually integrated in the overall air defence architecture.
