DRDO Hands Over Production Documents of 30mm HEPF Shell to Indian Navy

With the official handover, the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy)/DGNAI has granted approval for the induction of the HEPF Shell.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over the production document for the 30mm High Explosive Preformed Fragmentation (HEPF) Shell to the Director General of Naval Armament Inspection (DGNAI). The ceremony, held at the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pashan, Pune, marks a significant milestone in enhancing the combat capabilities of the Indian Navy against drone threats.

Developed by ARDE, a Pune-based laboratory of DRDO, the 30mm HEPF shell is designed to be compatible with the existing AK-630 Naval gun, similar to the in-service High Explosive Incendiary (HE/I) Shell. However, the HEPF shell offers superior fragmentation lethality, making it particularly effective for neutralizing drone swarms.

The HEPF shell hardware was manufactured by three Indian firms in accordance with ARDE specifications. The shells underwent gun firing proof tests in collaboration with the Naval Armament Inspectorate in Jabalpur, with the results confirming their suitability for use in the AK-630 gun system. This successful testing has paved the way for the shell's induction into service.

With the official handover, the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy)/DGNAI has granted approval for the induction of the HEPF Shell. ARDE has prepared the necessary production documents to facilitate the manufacturing of these shells to meet the Navy's operational requirements.

Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated ARDE on this achievement. The ceremony was attended by senior DRDO scientists and officials from Naval Headquarters.