India has launched a $1,5 billion program foreseeing the acquisition of new-generation close-in weapon systems (CIWS) to replace its Russian L-70 and ZU-23-2B air defence systems. The tender, issued last week, only calls for local companies who will then cooperate with foreign original equipment manufacturers.

The Indian Air Force plans to induct 244 air defence guns, 228 fire control and search radars and 204 thousand programmable bullets under CWIS programme. The CIWS units will have a short-range, and its air defence guns will have a range of 3.5 kilometres and be capable of firing 200 rounds of ammunition per minute.

The Air Force aims to induct CIWS units within the next seven years.