New Delhi: Adani Defence and Aerospace has joined hands with the Thales Group to build 70 mm laser-guided rockets for India’s combat helicopters, NDTV reported.
Thales Group is a major maker of 70mm rockets, launchers, and firing control systems, and it has delivered eight million rockets worldwide so far.
The 70 mm rockets can be used in multiple missions because of their precise laser guidance, immunity to jamming and accuracy in taking ammunition to the target. These rockets are viewed as the gold standard for chopper-mounted rocket systems.
Thales-made 70 mm rockets are usable against soft and light armoured vehicles, air defence facilities, radar sites and communication installations, utilizing laser-guided precision, NDTV reports.
The arms manufacturer ran a precision strike after mounting a 70 mm rocket on an Airbus H145M attack chopper in Sweden to demonstrate accuracy. The missile, which was fired from a distance of 4.5 km, showed a deviation of less than a metre only. This suggests that they could be used in combat operations in urban areas to reduce collateral damage. The rockets can be used to provide close air support to tanks or infantry on a battlefield.
India has the HAL Rudra - attack variant of the Dhruv chopper, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, the Apache AH-64 and the Mi-35 choppers in its arsenal. Each Prachand helicopter can carry around 48 rockets in a pod.
Adani Defence and Aerospace had signed an agreement with the EDGE Group earlier this month. EDGE is one of the front-running advanced technology and defence groups in the UAE. The agreement intends to establish a global platform leveraging the defence and aerospace capabilities of both companies to bring together their respective product portfolios and cater to the requirements of global and local customers, NDTV reported.