The Indian Army is accelerating the purchase of six AK-630 air defense guns to bolster security around towns targeted during recent clashes with neighboring Pakistan.
The systems will be procured from state-run Advanced Weapons and Equipment India as part of Mission “Sudarshan Chakra,” a long-term initiative to build a national air defense shield, ANI News reported.
The new guns will be deployed “to counter threats from unmanned aerial vehicles, rockets, artillery, and mortar fire” in key population centers and religious sites near the international border, particularly in Kashmir.
The acquisition follows lessons from Operation Sindoor, when Pakistan struck Indian border regions earlier this year, highlighting the need for faster, more responsive defenses to protect civilians.
An Indian Army officer told The Times of India that the purchase will be facilitated under an emergency procurement program approved after the standoff.
“More such guns, which act as close-in weapon systems because of their high rate of fire, will be ordered at a later stage,” the officer said.
The AK-630 Cannon
The AK-630 is a fully automatic rotary cannon originally developed in the 1970s by the Soviet Union and subsequently upgraded to counter modern multi-domain threats.
Its designation refers to six 2-meter (64-inch) barrels and a 30-millimeter caliber. The cannon has a muzzle velocity of 900 meters (2,953 feet) per second and can fire up to 4,000 rounds per minute at targets within a 4-kilometer (2-mile) range.
Weighing 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds), the AK-630 can be mounted on a trailer or towed by a high-mobility vehicle for rapid redeployment.
It includes an all-weather electro-optical fire control system for detection and engagement in day, night, and low-visibility conditions.
Once fielded, the AK-630s will be integrated into the Indian Army’s Akashteer AI-enabled command network for coordinated, real-time responses to aerial threats.
