Indian Air Force to Purchase 600 Aerial Bombs Weighing 1000 Kilograms
The Indian Air Force has requested information from domestic companies for the procurement of 1000-kilogram aerial bombs as part of the government's initiative to promote indigenous weapon manufacturing and production. The Air Force is specifically looking for a powerful aerial bomb similar to the American MK-84.
To facilitate this, the Air Force and the Ministry of Defence have issued an Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI invites expressions of interest for the indigenous design, development, and procurement of aerial bombs comparable to the MK-84 under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. This project will initially be launched under the Make-II (Industry Funded) category, followed by procurement under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
The project will be divided into two phases, with the first phase focusing on the development of prototypes, while the second phase will involve the procurement of these bombs from indigenous companies. A total of six prototypes will be created in the first phase, including both real and dummy bombs, which will then undergo testing to finalize the necessary technical standards. At least 50 percent of the materials used in this phase must be manufactured in India.
The bomb will be designed for easy deployment on indigenous, Russian, and other foreign aircraft of the Indian Air Force. It will possess high explosive capacity, enabling it to have a significant impact on enemy targets. Currently, the Indian Air Force has similar aerial bombs, but they are procured from abroad.
Following the first phase, approximately 600 bombs will be purchased in the second phase. The entire process from the issuance of the EOI to the signing of the contract is expected to take about 2.5 years, encompassing design, testing, evaluation, and other procedures. All tests will be conducted in India at Air Force units or designated locations, and the bombs will be tested from various platforms.
The MK-84 is a heavy aerial bomb from the United States, typically dropped from fighter or heavy bomber aircraft, weighing around 900-1000 kilograms (2000 pounds). It is a general-purpose bomb that can be used against various types of targets, causing extensive damage due to its high explosive capacity. It is commonly used to destroy fortified positions such as enemy bunkers, buildings, runways, and warehouses.
When integrated with modern systems, it can also be transformed into a precision bomb. This bomb was developed during the Vietnam War.
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