New Delhi: The signing of a contract valued at Rs 1752.13 crore with Ministry of Defence for the indigenous manufacture and supply of 463 numbers of 12.7mm stabilised remote control guns (SRCG) is the largest order received by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), Kanpur after corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board.
AWEIL will execute the contract over a period of five years. These guns are for the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The SRCG system is fitted with a 12.7 mm standard machine gun designed for marine applications mounted on-board ships and small crafts and can remotely engage small boats, skiffs, and other small crafts with accuracy both during day and night.
It has the state of art technology with advanced features of independent combat management system which includes remote control operation, stabilisation with advanced fire control systems, day camera, thermal imager, laser range finder and automatic target tracking systems. It enables the SRCG to fire on the move and to fire on moving (sailing) targets with high hit probability in asymmetric environment, which enhances operational efficiency and also ensures safety to the Naval personnel.
“AWEIL is already supplying 30mm AK 630 Naval Gun System from GSF Cossipore, SRGM Barrel Liner from FGK Kanpur and Kavach Chaff system from GCF Jabalpur for the Indian Navy. The Indigenous manufacture and supply of SRCG from Ordnance Factory, Tiruchirapalli, will significantly boost AWEIL capabilities in supply of Naval Weapon Platforms,” said Rajesh Choudhary, Chairman and Managing Director, AWEIL.
These SRCGs will have an indigenous content of 85 percent, involving three major DPSUs AWEIL, AVNL and IOL. The contract will create opportunities for around 125 Indian vendors from the private sector.
Ordnance Factory, Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu, a unit of AWEIL will undertake the manufacturing of 12.7mm SRCG with supply from other DPSUs and Indian private vendors. The indigenous procurement of SRCG therefore aligns itself with the Indian government vision of Aatmanirbharta in Defence, emphasising self-reliance and also promoting Indian defence companies.
