Navy moves to indigenise MiG-29K firepower, invites firms to build aero rockets

The Indian Navy has invited domestic defence firms to design and make 80 mm aero rockets for its MiG-29K fleet. The move is part of its wider push to replace imported ammunition with fully indigenous systems.

In Short

• Navy plans to procure 273 live and 2,400 practice rounds by 2026-27
• Rockets to have 15-year life, operate in -60 to '60°C, speed of 600 m/s
• All rocket components must be fully indigenous with no foreign dependency

The Indian Navy has taken a major step towards boosting indigenous defence manufacturing by inviting domestic companies to design and manufacture 80-mm aero rockets for its MiG-29K fighter fleet.

The Navy issued an Expression of Intent (EoI) last week seeking participation from Indian defence firms for the development and production of the ammunition, which is currently imported from foreign countries.

The 80-mm aero rocket is an unguided air-to-ground weapon used aboard MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighter jets. These Russian-origin twin-engine aircraft serve as the strike force on aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

The Navy's move is part of its broader objective of becoming 100 per cent indigenous by 2047 and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for ammunition and critical defence equipment.

Launched from B8M-1 pod launchers, the 80-mm aero rocket can penetrate armoured vehicles while dispersing lethal fragments against softer targets, including radar stations, parked aircraft and enemy personnel on the ground.

The Navy plans to procure 273 live rockets and 2,400 practice rounds after a prototype successfully completes development and testing. The tentative induction timeline has been set for 2026-27. At present, the Navy operates around 42 MiG-29K fighters aboard INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

The EoI outlines detailed operational and technical requirements for the indigenous rocket. The weapon must have a service life of at least 15 years and remain operational in temperatures ranging from -60 degrees Celsius to +60 degrees Celsius, enabling deployment in conditions ranging from high-altitude cold environments to tropical maritime regions. The rocket should weigh 11.3 kg, measure approximately 1.54 metres in length and achieve a speed of 600 metres per second.

According to the specifications, the rocket must have an effective firing range of 1.3 km to 4 km. Its 0.9-kg explosive warhead should be capable of penetrating 400 mm of armour at a direct angle while generating at least 400 metal fragments weighing around 3 grams each upon detonation.

The Navy has also mandated that the rocket be fully sealed for operations at altitudes of up to 20,000 metres and certified for use from aircraft flying at heights of up to 17,500 metres.

The Navy has also sought a practice version of the rocket with identical flight characteristics but without a warhead to support pilot training. The EoI notes that the Navy's existing inventory of 80-mm rockets has been imported from foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and that no indigenous source currently exists for the ammunition.

Companies interested in the programme must possess the research and development capability, testing and proof facilities, and financial capacity required for the design and development of military-grade aero rockets and ground-based rockets.

The Navy has made it clear that all sub-assemblies of the rocket must be developed indigenously and that there should be no dependence on foreign OEMs for the system.

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