Article Posted on : - Dec 02, 2010

A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): The DRDO is currently testing a new short-range coastal security rocket system for deployment on shore and on board ships to target rogue boats such as those used by terrorists to carry out the Mumbai attacks.

The DRDO's Chandipur-based Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) is testing the 4-km range 140mm rockets that can accurately target the smaller boats and sink them, according to S Sundaresh, Chief Controller of Research and Development (Armament and Combat Engineering) of the premier defence research agency.

Developed in collaboration with the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Navy's Directorate General of Naval Armament and Inspection, the rockets' development and likely production are being fast-tracked following the 26/11 terror strikes, he said.

PXE Director Major General P Mathur said the coastal security weapon comes with a launcher and 12 rockets that can be fired simultaneously to rain the warhead over the intended target.

"This is cost-effective weapon system. But it is now in the developmental stage. OFB is the production agency," Mathur said.

The remote operated rocket system is an indigenous development that emerged out of the confluence of the minds from the OFB, DRDO and the Indian Navy, who would be the users of the weapon.

"It has been proposed to deploy these rockets all along the 7,516-km-long coastline of ours including the island territories. We expect the weapon system to go into production within months from now," a Navy officer associated with the project said.

"Apart from being deployed on the shore, the rocket system can be mounted on ships too," he added.

To acquire targets, the user will have to visually identify the rogue or enemy boats and then use his remote control to fire the rocket barrage on them.

Though the three defence agencies were already working on the rocket system project even before the 26/11 attack, the weapon has now become "a hot property" and there is a sense of urgency to get it operational, Navy officials added.