INDIAN NAVY TO BUY REMOTE GUNS
By Bulbul Singh
05 Dec 13. To cope with non-traditional asymmetrical threats, including suicide attacks by terrorists, the Indian Navy is to buy remote guns with a rapid rate of fire. A tender worth over $200 million for the purchase of 621 12.7mm Stabilized Remote Control Guns (SRCG) along with transfer of technology in favour of India’s state-owned Ordnance Factories Board has been sent to Finmeccanica, E. Digital of the U.K., BAE Systems, Elbit and Samsung.
The purchase will include SRCGs along with ammunition from the OEM in a phased manner. 74 SRCGs will be bought in Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) condition and another 74 SRCGs in Completely Knocked Down (CKD)condition, while the remaining 463 guns will be indigenously produced in India at one of the factories of OFB.
Of the 100,000+ rounds of ammunition, 253170 will be procured in SKD condition while the remaining 253170 will be procured in CKD.
The 12.7mm SRCGs will be mounted on warships and small vessels and will be required to remotely engage small boats, skiffs and other small crafts with accuracy 24/7. The guns will be interfaced to the ship’s gyro, log and anemometer.
The Qualitative Requirements of the tender stipulate that the Maximum Effective Range of the guns should be greater than 1.7kms and the magazine capacity should be around 200 rounds.
In addition, the guns should be able to operate 360 degrees and -15 and +50 degrees in elevation and the Rate of Fire should be greater than or equal to 450rounds per minute. The gun should be capable of firing in single short, rapid and fully automatic while engaging a surface target of NATO standard size manoeuvring at a speed of 30 knots and a range of 1.7kms.
The SRCGs will be mounted with a CCD camera, thermal imagers and Laser Range Finders. The thermal imagers should operate in the IR spectrum and the gun and the optronics sight would be mounted on a twin axes stabilized platform.
The SRCG are required to have a multi-functional display unit consisting of an LCD monitor with soft touch keys capable of all initializations, operational settings, calibration, diagnostics and operating various software menus. The display unit should be able to control and fire at least two stabilised platforms, one at a time. Weighing less than 220kgs, the guns should be able to operate at one minute readiness and have a built-in test feature incorporated into the system and should operate as part of the normal start-up procedure of the system.
The OEM will be required to provide itemized spare parts list along with the price in the commercial offer and the likely consumption of rate of spares based on the exploitation pattern of the equipment. This condition has been incorporated to ensure supply of spares. Trials will be held on-board vendors platform at no cost to the Indian Navy. With a lifetime support of not less than 20 years the tender has to fulfil the Offset requirements.