The Indian Army is fast-tracking the acquisition of six AK-630 air defense guns to strengthen protection around towns targeted in recent cross-border clashes with Pakistan.
According to ANI News, the guns will be procured from Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL) under Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a long-term initiative aimed at building a comprehensive national air defense shield.
The systems will be positioned near key population centers and religious sites along the border — particularly in Jammu and Kashmir — to counter threats from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rockets, artillery, and mortar fire.
The procurement follows lessons from Operation Sindoor, during which Pakistani strikes on border regions earlier this year underscored the need for faster, more adaptive defenses to protect civilians.
An Army official told The Times of India that the purchase will be executed under an emergency procurement plan approved after the confrontation. “Additional systems with close-in weapon capabilities will follow in subsequent phases,” the official added.
The AK-630 Cannon
Originally developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s, the AK-630 is a six-barrel, 30 mm rotary cannon designed for close-range air defense. It fires at up to 4,000 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 4 km and muzzle velocity of 900 m/s.
Weighing around 1,000 kg, the system can be mounted on a trailer or vehicle for rapid relocation and is equipped with an all-weather electro-optical fire control suite for target detection and engagement under all visibility conditions.
Once fielded, the guns will be integrated into the Army’s AI-enabled Akashteer command network, allowing real-time coordination and automated responses to aerial threats.
