DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) has selected SSS Defence and Kalyani Group as Development cum Production Partners to develop an indigenous 20 mm aviation gun and turret system. The selection comes a year after a top ARDE scientist told Chakra News of plans for an indigenous 20 mm cannon for India's armed helicopters.

In an interview with Chakra News last August, Dr PSSRK Prasad of ARDE said the laboratory was looking at aircraft and helicopter weapons that India currently needs to import. He specifically mentioned the gun used on the ALH Dhruv and said ARDE was examining the possibility of developing an indigenous replacement for such systems.

Dr Prasad identified the 20 mm as the possible caliber of choice. “A 20 mm gun can fire high explosive ammunition, giving it capabilities unavailable with a 12.7 mm weapon”. He said this could give the system applications beyond a single platform.

He also indicated that the technology could also be used to shoot down enemy drones.  “A  20 mm system could create several spin offs. It could be scaled up for a 30 mm system”.

The selection of SSS Defence and the Kalyani Group represents the next stage of the programme, in which industry will participate in the development and subsequent production of the weapons. The DRDO has used the DCPP model for several programs like the Pinaka MLRS and the ATAGS howitzer. 

The 20 mm calibre occupies an important space between smaller calibre machine guns and larger cannon systems. It can use explosive ammunition and can therefore be used against a wider range of targets. On helicopters, such weapons can provide close range fire support and engagement capability against ground targets. The growing use of drones has created demand for weapons that can engage small aerial targets and provide greater firepower than conventional machine guns.

ARDE's interest also comes as the organisation continues to expand its work beyond traditional small arms programmes. During the interview, Dr Prasad said ARDE was examining technologies in areas where there were still capability gaps. He also mentioned work on a 7.62 mm Gatling gun and the possibility of developing larger calibre systems.

He said the organisation was looking at ways to remain at the forefront of weapons technologies even as private industry increasingly takes up conventional small arms production. This would allow ARDE to focus its research and development efforts on areas where indigenous capabilities are still limited.

The Pune-baseed ARDE develops small arms, ammunition and weapon systems for the Indian armed forces. ARDE's Small Arms Division has developed several weapons for the armed forces, including the INSAS family of small arms, the ASMI 9 mm machine pistol and the Ugram battle rifle.

Savio Rodrigues

Savio Rodrigues is a Research Analyst at Escape Velocity MediaWorks Pvt Ltd and writes for Chakra News on Defence, Geopolitics, National Security. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Mumbai.