NEW DELHI: Aiming to give a push to indigenous weapons for MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB carrier-based fighter jets, Navy has invited domestic companies to design and manufacture 80-mm aero rockets for its aircraft carrier-launched fighter fleet.Dated May 26, the Expression of Intent (EoI) issued by Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) in Goa marks another step in Navy’s push to reduce dependence on foreign-origin munitions. Navy’s entire inventory of the munition has so far been procured from a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM).MiG-29K/KUB, the Russian-origin twin-engine aircraft, currently serve as strike force on aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.The 80mm aero rocket is a dual-purpose munition, designed to neutralise armoured targets such as tanks and armoured personnel carriers as well as unarmoured targets like radar installations, parked aircraft and troop concentrations.As per EoI, all sub-assemblies must be developed indigenously, and no dependence on foreign OEM would be permitted.The Navy plans to procure indigenous 273 live rockets and 2,400 practice rounds after a prototype successfully completes development and testing. Tentative timeline for induction is 2026-27. As per EoI, the weapon must remain functional in temperatures ranging from -60 degrees Celsius to +60 degrees Celsius.
