The Indian Army is fast-tracking the acquisition of six AK-630 air defense guns to enhance protection in sensitive regions recently targeted during border skirmishes with Pakistan. The procurement will be carried out through Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL) under Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a national initiative to strengthen India’s layered air defense network, ANI News reported.
The systems are intended to counter drones, rockets, artillery, and mortar attacks aimed at civilian zones and key religious locations, particularly in Kashmir and other areas along the international border. The move follows lessons from Operation Sindoor, when Pakistan’s cross-border strikes earlier this year underscored the urgent need for rapid-response defense systems to safeguard densely populated areas.
According to an Army official cited by The Times of India, the purchase has been approved under the emergency procurement mechanism, allowing faster delivery and deployment. “More such guns will be ordered later, as they serve as close-in weapon systems capable of neutralizing multiple aerial threats due to their extremely high rate of fire,” the officer noted.
The AK-630 is a six-barrel, 30mm rotary cannon originally designed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and later modernized to handle modern drone and rocket threats. It can fire up to 4,000 rounds per minute, striking targets within a 4-kilometer range. The weapon features an electro-optical fire control system for all-weather operations and can be mounted on mobile platforms for quick redeployment. Once commissioned, the systems will be networked with the AI-driven Akashteer command system for real-time coordination and engagement across India’s air defense grid.
