View source for Armament Research and Development Establishment

{{Short description|Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Laboratory
|name           = Armament Research & Development Establishment
|motto          =
|logo           =
|image          =
|established    = 1958
|city           = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]]
|research_field =
|type           =
|director       = Dr V Venkateswara Rao, O.S.
|staff          =
|budget         =
|operating_agency = [[DRDO]]
|affiliations   =
|address        = Armament PO, Pashan, <br>Pune-411 021
|telephone      =
|campus         =
|website        = [http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/ARDE/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp ARDE Home Page]
|footnotes      =
}}

The '''Armament Research & Development Establishment''' ('''ARDE''') is a laboratory of the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO). Located in [[Pune]], it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of [[conventional weapons|conventional armaments]].

== History ==

ARDE was established in 1958, with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in the field of Armaments. ARDE started working from a rudimentary facility within the campus of Ammunition Factory, [[Khadki]] of the [[Ordnance Factory Board]]. Personnel were drawn from the erstwhile Technical Development Establishment (Weapons) located in [[Jabalpur]] and Technical Development Establishment (Ammunition) at [[Khadki]] of the [[Indian Ordnance Factories]].

In 1966, ARDE moved to its present location at Pashan, on the outskirts of [[Pune]], next to the [[National Chemical Laboratory]], a major [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research|CSIR]] Laboratory.

== Areas of work ==

ARDE's main area of research is in the design and development of Conventional Armaments for the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. This stretches over the whole gamut of research, development, prototyping, test and evaluation, and transfer of technology activities.<ref>[http://drdo.res.in/labs/arde/areas.html ARDE Areas of Work]{{dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref> This includes basic and applied research, modeling, simulation and software development of armaments. Additionally, life extension and upgradation of in-Service equipment is also carried out.

Being a research laboratory, ARDE does not carry out large-scale production activities, except for limited scale pilot-plant production of crucial items. After an initial production, the technologies developed by it are transferred to manufacturing agencies like [[Bharat Electronics Limited|BEL]], [[Ordnance Factories Organisation|OFB]] and other manufacturers. In this capacity, ARDE supervises the Transfer of Technology to these plants, and aids in initial productionization and [[Quality Assurance]] of these products.

With the Indian Armed Forces using many weapons from foreign vendors, it is necessary to integrate them and make them compatible with other existing systems in service. ARDE is involved in advising the Services regarding induction and indigenisation of Weapon Systems of Foreign Origin.

== Projects and products ==
Brief List of some of the projects and products which are and were undertaken by ARDE are as follows
=== Small arms ===

====7.62×51 1A1 self loading rifle====

[[File:Voters at the polls - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|A [[Border Security Force|BSF]] personnel carrying a 7.62mm 1A1 rifle in [[West Bengal]] during poll.]]

One of the earlier ARDE developments was the [[FN FAL#India|7.62&nbsp;mm 1A1 self-loading rifle]] (SLR) and its ammunition which replaced the [[Rifle 7.62mm 2A1|Ishapore 2A1]] bolt-action rifles (based on the [[Lee–Enfield|0.303 Lee–Enfield]] rifle) in [[Indian Army]] service then. Over a million rifles have been produced by the [[Rifle Factory Ishapore]], and were used in the [[1965 war|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971]] [[Indo-Pakistan Wars]].<ref name="achievements">[http://drdo.com/labs/arma/arde/achieve.shtml ARDE Products and Technologies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014064059/http://drdo.com/labs/arma/arde/achieve.shtml |date=14 October 2007 }}</ref>

====INSAS 5.56 mm small arms family====
[[File:INSAS rifle (Browngirl06).jpg|thumb|right|INSAS Assault rifle]]
Drawing heavily from its past experience with the 7.62mm SLR, ARDE developed the [[INSAS 5.56 mm|5.56&nbsp;mm Indian Small Arms System (INSAS)]]. This helped standardize ammunition for infantry, reducing logistical problems. The infantry was earlier equipped with three types of small arms firing two types of ammunition, viz. 7.62&nbsp;mm Ishapore SLR, LMG and 9&nbsp;mm carbine. The INSAS family replaces all the three weapons, and consists of an [[Assault Rifle]], a [[Light Machine Gun]], and a Carbine Variant. The INSAS was introduced in 1998, and has since supplanted the SLR as the service rifle of the Indian Army.

====ARDE 40 mm under barrel grenade launcher====
The single shot [[ARDE 40 mm under barrel grenade launcher]] was developed in collaboration with [[Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli]]<ref name=bsword>{{cite web|title=Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) developed by the ARDE for the 5.56mm INSAS rifle|url=http://ajaishukla.blogspot.ca/2010/07/under-barrel-grenade-launcher-ubgl.html|publisher=Ajaishukla Blogspot|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> for use with the [[INSAS rifle|INSAS]] and [[AK-47]] rifles. Stand alone versions of the grenade launcher also exist.<ref name=ofb>{{cite web|title=Under Barrel Grenade Launcher 40 mm |url=http://ofbindia.nic.in/products/data/weapons/wmc/8.htm |publisher=[[Ordnance Factories Board]] |accessdate=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041651/http://ofbindia.nic.in/products/data/weapons/wmc/8.htm |archivedate=11 December 2014 }}</ref> The UBGL has an in-built safety to prevent accidental firing and a 3-point attachment for rigidity. The trigger system is, located on the side of the barrel, allowing the soldier to fire both the rifle and grenade launcher without having to change his firing posture.<ref name="ofb"/> The weapon uses a simple ladder sight mechanism and has tritium illuminated sights for night firing. The ammunition fired by the UBGL, is similar to the [[Milkor MGL]] used by the Indian Army, allowing for standardisation.<ref name="ofb"/>

==== ASMI machine pistol ====
India's first indigenous machine pistol [[ASMI|Asmi]] was jointly developed by the Indian Army and ARDE.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-14|title=DRDO’s Pune facility and Army develop first indigenous 9mm machine pistol ‘Asmi’|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/drdo-india-pistol-asmi-7146496/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

=== Artillery and tank guns ===

====105 mm Indian Field Gun====
Designed by ARDE in 1972, the [[Indian Field Gun]].It became the mainstay of the army's field artillery after being introduced.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shukla|first=Ajai|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/155-mm-gun-contract-drdo-enters-the-fray-110072900042_1.html|title=155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray|date=29 June 2010|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|location=New Delhi, India|accessdate=8 November 2014}}</ref>

====Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher====
The [[Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher]] was developed by the [[DRDO]] for the [[Indian Army]]. Development began in 1983. The Army had felt the need for a weapon system which could neutralize targets at ranges exceeding 30&nbsp;km. To meet this demand, Pinaka MBRLS was developed. The project was a major program involving several DRDO Labs, Public and Private Sector Firms. This was one of the first major projects involving the Private sector. [[Larsen & Toubro|L&T]] and [[Tata Group|Tata]] have been given orders worth Rs. 390 crores

The system comprises a free-flight artillery rocket with different types of warheads & fuzes, a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle and a command post vehicle. The system is capable of firing in salvo mode within 48 sec, neutralizing an area of 700 x 500 m. The Pinaka was successfully used in [[Kargil War]] against Fortified Pakistani Positions in the mountains. The Army has placed an order for 6 regiments, with one already operational.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

====Arjun 120 mm gun====
[[File:Arjun MBT bump track test.JPG|thumb|Arjun MBT]]
The Arjun MBT's 120&nbsp;mm main gun is a [[Rifling|rifled]] gun developed and tested by ARDE for use with the [[Arjun tank]].<ref>{{cite journal|date=February 2002 |title=120 Millimetre MBT Arjun Armament System |journal=DRDO Technology Focus |volume=10 |issue=1 |url=http://www.drdo.org/pub/techfocus/feb02/arjun.htm |accessdate=2007-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619090548/http://www.drdo.org/pub/techfocus/feb02/arjun.htm |archivedate=2007-06-19 }}.(DRDO webpage with technical Details of the Arjun Tank Gun).</ref> The gun is one of the few rifled tank guns in modern tanks (the [[Challenger 2 Tank]] also uses a rifled gun). It is capable of firing rounds at velocities over 1650&nbsp;m/s, and can sustain pressures of up to 612 [[MPa]].

ARDE has also developed the Ammunition system for the gun, with [[Kinetic energy penetrator|FSAPDS]] being the primary [[Kinetic energy penetrator|kinetic energy round]] used. The Arjun can also use [[HEAT]], [[High explosive squash head|HESH]] and other rounds, as well as being able to fire the [[LAHAT]] [[ATGM|Anti-tank missile]] The armament and ammunition system are under current production at OFB.

====DRDO 155 mm artillery gun====
A DRDO project to develop a [[DRDO 155 mm artillery gun|155 mm 52 calibre indigenous howitzer]].

=== Ejection seat ===
ARDE has developed an ejection seat for [[HAL Tejas|LCA HAL Tejas]] military aircraft. The British Martin-Baker ejection seat used for initial prototype is planned to be replaced with a locally developed alternative. To improve pilot safety during ejection, the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, India created a new line-charged canopy severance system, which has been certified by Martin-Baker.

==Robotics==

===Daksh robot===

[[DRDO Daksh|Daksh]] is an electrically powered and remotely controlled robot used for locating, handling and destroying hazardous objects safely.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kulkarni|first=Prasad|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-28/pune/27893859_1_vehicle-daksh-detection-and-disposal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024161517/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-28/pune/27893859_1_vehicle-daksh-detection-and-disposal|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|title=Daksh could be useful in Mumbai operations|date=28 November 2008|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=11 December 2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100813052057/http://www.drdo.res.in/labs/arde/index.html ARDE Home Page]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/pinaka.htm Pinaka MBRL System] on GlobalSecurity.org.
* {{cite news
 | title =  ARDE develops hi-tech system for LCA
 | url = http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980918/26150254.html
 | publisher = [[Indian Express]]
 | date = 17 September 1998
 | accessdate = 2007-11-05
 }}
* {{cite news
 | title =  ARDE on futuristic course, charts expansion
 | url = http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981226/36051774.html
 | publisher = [[Indian Express]]
 | date = 25 December 1998
 | accessdate = 2007-11-05
 }}

{{DRDO Laboratories}}
{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{coord missing|Maharashtra}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Armament Research And Development Establishment}}
[[Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratories]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Pune]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in Bombay State]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1958]]