Defence to expand range facility: Malhotra

Balasore, Nov 04 (UNI) The Defence department is planning to modernise and expand the range facilities, indigenous development of state-of-art-ballistic range instrumentation and modernization of ammunition storage and handling system of the Interim Test Range Chandipur and Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), said Major General Anup Malhotra here today.

Maj.Malhotra told newspersons here that Chandipur of late has been transformed as a world class dynamic test and evaluation centre of armament stores.

Considered as one of the oldest of the 52 defence laboratories, it has been carrying out proof testing of Arjun ammunition, T-72 ammunition, 150 mm ERFB ammunition, 155 mm illuminating ammunition, 130mm high explosives.

In addition to it the unit has also played a pivotal role in the research and development of major armaments developed by DRDO such as Arjun, PINAKA, 105 FG/LFG, FSAPDS ammunition, advanced armour and indigenization of 130 and 155 mm ammunition, bi- modular and uni-modular charge system, said Maj Malhotra.

Competence has been developed in the areas of ammunition storage, handling and preparation, critical examination, recovery techniques, target erection and accurate recording of host of ballistic parameters.

The PXE owing to its expertise in the field has been imparting special training to students of Applied physics and Ballistics since 2006.

The firing (proof) activities of 155 mm extended range full bore base bleed, recovery proof of 130mm and 105 mm IFG ammunition and functioning proof of FSAPDS for Arjun were displayed on the eve of the celebration of the golden jubilee celebration of the DRDO today.

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