Navy likely to induct 'Kawach' rockets in 2013

"We have made two prototype and first trial has been successfully conducted while the second trial will be conducted sometime this year before its final induction into the Indian Navy in 2013," OFB Director General and Chairman, D M Gupta Gupta told a press conference, here today.

Kawach to be launched from Navy submarines will have a range of 40 kms. He also informed that the OFB is in the process of investing Rs 6800 crore over the next five years and will be taking up many new products like new generation assault rifles, very short range air defence missiles, latest generation artillery guns and ammunitions through technology transfer.

While ruling out the possibility of setting up new factories, he said OFB is in the process of expanding existing factories utilising surplus land since land acquisition was a problem for new units.

Gupta said 'Pinaca' rockets manufactured at Ordnance Factory at Ambajhari here have been well-received by the Indian Army and the OFB which presently manufactures 1000 rockets per year has a demand five times higher and it might consider increasing its capacity to cope up with the demand.

Gupta said though Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is entrusted with research and development, the OFB Board has approached the Government proposing to do it at its 12 centres.

Meanwhile, talking about its performance in terms of numbers, Gupta said the OFB has registered a growth rate of 29 per cent and achieved issue value (turnover) of Rs 11,232 crore in 201011 against Rs 8,715 crore during 2009-10. He said the target for the current fiscal is Rs 12,500 crore.