The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

Microwave Obscurant Chaff technology: 

• Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC), a niche technology developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield around platforms and assets, thus reducing radar detection.

• Special type of fibres, with diameter of few microns and unique microwave obscuration properties, have been assembled in the medium range chaff rocket. 

• The rocket, when fired, forms microwave obscurant cloud in space spreading over a sufficient area, with adequate persistence time, thus creating an effective shield against hostile threats having Radio Frequency seekers.

• DRDO has successfully developed three variants of a crucial technology: i) Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR)

ii) Medium Range Chaff Rocket (MRCR)

iii) Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR).

Difference between chaff and flares:

• Chaff and flares are defensive measures used by military aircraft to evade radar-guided or infrared-guided anti-aircraft missiles.

• Chaff consists of numerous small aluminium or zinc-coated fibers stored in tubes on the aircraft. 

• When the aircraft detects radar tracking missiles, chaff is released into the turbulent air behind the plane to confuse radar signals.

• Flares, when deployed, emit a strong infrared (IR) signature that distracts heat-seeking anti-air missiles.

• This diversion aims to lure the missiles away from the aircraft by providing an alternative IR source.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

• DRDO is the research and development wing of the defence ministry. 

• Its vision is to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, while equipping our armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the requirements laid down by the three services.

• DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production with the Defence Science Organisation. 

• DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. 

• Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

• Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already been made in several such technologies.

• DRDO’s pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms such as Agni and Prithvi series of missiles, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka, air defence system Akash, etc have given a quantum jump to India’s military might, generating effective deterrence and providing crucial leverage.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)