BEL builds gunfire control system

The state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has developed a multi-sensor, multi-weapon defence system for deployment on board ships for the Indian Navy. The new generation Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) will be installed on board the P-28 class of ships. At a BEL function, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Anthony was handed over the Naval Gun Fire Control System (GFCS), developed by BEL for the Indian Navy.

BEL officials revealed that the state-of-the-art GFCS is a quick reaction, multi-sensor, multi-weapon, short/medium/long range defence system against air, surface or shore targets on board naval ships. It will track hostile targets through radars or video tracking systems, acting on data given out by early warning search radars and will track the approach of hostile targets with high accuracy. The data generated by the sensors will be processed and used to control the weapons, by pointing them in the direction of incoming missiles. The GFCS is designed to provide air or surface defence with 76mm and 30mm guns.

BEL officials added that the GFCS comprises of five functional sub-systems, which includes the tracker, weapon control, sight control, combat management system and support systems. All of these can be used as an independent system as well. The GFCS will be deployed on the P-28 class of ships.

The P-28 class of ships, which is the Project 28 ASW corvettes, are the latest anti-submarine warfare (ASW) of the Indian Navy. Four of these vessels/frigates were ordered in 2003 and 12 of them are planned in total. These vessels displace around 2500 tons and have a length of around 110 metres. These vessels will have a high ratio of indigenous content in terms of equipment and technology. The vessel will generate top speeds of 28-32 knots. The design of the vessel aims at the reduction of acoustic, magnetic, infra-red and radar cross section signatures of this class of ships. The main machinery is raft mounted to reduce acoustic and vibration signatures.

The vessel will have automated control and battle damage systems and the armament will include a license-built OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun in a stealth mount. Other weapons include an eight cell Klub-N (3M-54E variant) missile system, a 16-cell Barak SAM launcher, a pair of AK-630M CIWS (Close In Weapon System), two Larsen & Tubro built anti-submarine rocket launchers and four Larsen & Tubro built 533mm torpedo launchers. The vessel will also carry the sensor ‘Revati’, which is the naval variant of the Central Acquisition Radar (CAR), the radar made by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The ‘Revati’ sensor can track 150 targets at ranges of 200 kilometres.