DRDO Delivers Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket to Indian Navy

DRDO Delivers Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket to Indian Navy: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) marked a significant milestone by handing over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy on June 26, 2024, during a ceremony in New Delhi. This cutting-edge technology enhances India's defense capabilities, ensuring greater stealth and protection for naval assets. Read this complete article to know in detail about this advancement.

DRDO Delivers Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket to Indian Navy

Key Highlights:

• Innovative Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC) Technology:
  • Developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur, the MOC technology creates a microwave shield around platforms and assets, significantly reducing radar detection.
  • This technology involves the use of special fibers, just a few microns in diameter, with unique microwave obscuration properties.
• Functionality and Effectiveness:
  • When the MR-MOCR is fired, it disperses a microwave-obscurant cloud in space that covers a large area and remains persistent for an adequate time.
  • This cloud forms an effective shield against hostile threats equipped with radio frequency seekers.
• Successful Trials:
  • Phase-I Trials:
    • Conducted on Indian Navy ships, these trials demonstrated the blooming and persistence of the MOC cloud in space.
  • Phase-II Trials:
    • Showcased a 90% reduction in the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of an aerial target, further proving the rocket's effectiveness.
• Handing Over Ceremony:
  • The MR-MOCR was officially handed over by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, to Rear Admiral Brijesh Vashistha, Director General of Naval Armament Inspection, Indian Navy.
  • The ceremony highlighted the collaborative success between DRDO and the Indian Navy in developing this strategic technology.
• Commendations and Future Prospects:
  • Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh praised DRDO and the Indian Navy for this achievement, emphasizing it as a step towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence.
  • Both Dr. Kamat and Rear Admiral Vashistha congratulated the Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur team for their swift and effective development of the MR-MOCR, underscoring its strategic importance.

Strategic Importance:

• The MR-MOCR enhances the stealth capabilities of Indian naval forces, providing a critical edge in modern warfare.
• The indigenous development of this technology aligns with India’s vision of self-reliance in defence, bolstering the country's defence infrastructure.

What is Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket?

• Purpose : The MR-MOCR creates a microwave-obscurant cloud that disrupts radar signals, making it difficult for enemy radar systems to detect and track naval ships.
• Technology : It uses special fibers with unique microwave obscuration properties. These fibers are extremely fine, only a few microns in diameter.
• Function : When the rocket is fired, it disperses the fibers into the atmosphere, forming a cloud that acts as a microwave shield. This cloud covers a wide area and remains effective for a sufficient period, providing protection against radar-guided threats.
• Trials and Effectiveness : The MR-MOCR has undergone successful trials. In Phase-I, it demonstrated the ability to create a persistent obscurant cloud. In Phase-II, it achieved a reduction in the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of aerial targets by up to 90%, significantly decreasing the chances of detection by enemy radar.

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