DRDO develops three indigenous variants of ‘chaff rockets’ for protection of warships from missile attacks

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed three variants of a ‘chaff rocket’ for the protection of naval ships from guided-missile attacks. Chaff rocket is primarily a mechanism that when fired acts as a decoy to deflect the guiding mechanism of enemy missiles.

Ministry of Defence on Monday said the DRDO’s facility Defence Laboratory Jodhpur (DLJ) has indigenously developed three variants of this critical technology, namely Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR) and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR), meeting the Navy’s qualitative requirements. The Navy recently conducted trials of all three variants from a warship deployed in Arabian Sea and found the performance satisfactory.

DRDO has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack. The three variants namely Short Range Chaff Rocket, Medium Range Chaff Rocket, and Long Range Chaff Rocket met Indian Navy’s qualitative requirements. #AtmaNirbharBharat pic.twitter.com/T1RVu3elaK

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) April 5, 2021

Chaff is an electronic countermeasure technology used by militaries worldwide to protect naval ships or other sensitive targets from radar and radio frequency (RF) guiding mechanisms of the enemy missile. The chaff rockets deployed in the air reflect as multiple targets for the missile guidance systems and deflecting adversary missiles, thus protecting own assets.

A press statement from the defence ministry stated, “The DRDO has gained expertise to meet futuristic threats from adversaries. The technology is being given to the industry for production in large quantities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and industry for the achievement. Secretary Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the efforts of the teams involved in the indigenous development of this vital technology to safeguard Indian naval ships. Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar has applauded DRDO for developing strategically important technology indigenously in a short span and cleared for bulk production. The successful development of Advanced Chaff Technology by DLJ is another step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.”