Nagpur: Solar Group, a Nagpur-based company, has begun production of chaff and flare systems, an electronic countermeasure device for military aircraft. The defence forces have been relying on imports until now, said a media report.
In a big boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative of Government of India, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, AVSM,VM,VSM, Deputy Chief of Air Staff, inaugurated the Chaff Manufacturing Plant at Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Nagpur. EEL is a 100 percent subsidiary of Solar Industries India Limited.
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Saturday 23 Nov. 2024
According to the report, production has already begun, and Solar Group has initiated supplies to Munition India Limited (MIL), the Pune-based defence PSU formed out of the erstwhile ordnance factories. However, the company also aspires to secure independent orders from the defence forces. As the IAF is the primary user of these systems, the company intends to participate in the request for proposals (RFP) whenever issued by the forces. It looks forward to supplying the systems to other wings like the Army and Navy as well.
Solar Group conducts its defence production through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Economic Explosives Limited (EEL). Chaff and flare systems have become an integral component of aerial warfare. These systems create a cloud around the aircraft, not only preventing it from being detected by radar but also acting as a decoy to deflect missiles by creating a false target. Report indicated that the product was primarily imported from the United Kingdom until now.
Chaff 118, Chaff 50mm and Chaff 26mm along with impulse cartridges manufactured at this most advanced facility of SolarGroup are used in different aircraft such as Jaguar D-II, D-III, MIG29, Mirage 2000, Bison, LCA, Apache, Chinook, Embraer, AWACS, Cth/Ctk, AHWSI and LCH etc.
The Chaff payloads were developed by EEL with Technology Support from Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur under the category of Buy Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured). EEL has got airworthiness certificate from Air Force Inspecting Authorities for the Chaff payloads manufactured in-house, thus paving the way for fitment on aircraft, helicopter and other airborne platforms.
