In a situation of war, the explosives take more lives than bullets.
The Indian Army uses a lot of equipment to secure our borders whether they are assault rifles, battle tanks or any other equipment in the Indian Army. But did you know that it is not bullets but explosives that contribute to the number of deaths in a war?
India has made its indegeneous explosives for their army. This article contains all the information about the explosives used by the Indian Army.
What are Explosives ?
An explosive is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion. The production of light, heat, sound, and pressure accompany explosions. A wide variety of chemicals can explode and smaller numbers are manufactured for the purpose of being used as explosives. The remainder are too dangerous, sensitive, toxic, or prone to decomposition or degradation over short time spans.
List of the Indian Army’s explosives :-
| Name | Type | Origin |
| MMHG Shivalik | Hand Grenade | India |
| ARDE 40mm UBGL | Grenade launcher | India |
| Multi-grenade launcher 40mm | Multi grenade launcher | India |
| AT4CS AST | Recoilless Rifle | Sweden |
| Carl Gustav RCL M2/M3/M4 | Recoilless Rifle | India and Sweden |
| B-300 Shipon | Rocket launcher | Israel |
| RPO- A Shmel | Rocket launcher | Russia |
| AGS-30 | Automatic grenade launcher | Russia |
MMHG Shivalik Explosives
MMHG Shivalik is a Multi Mode Hand Grenade. It is a replacement of the vintage Hand Grenade M 36, offering numerous advantages to the Soldier in terms of Safety, Dual Mode capability and Lethality.
Economic Explosives Limited has successfully established production of Multi Mode Hand Grenade. It is established as per Transfer Of Technology obtained from TBRL (DRDO).
The Ministry of Defence signed a 409 crore deal with Solar Group. The deal is to buy 10 lakhs grenades. Shivalik grenade is used in hand mode offensive and hand mode defensive. Can be used in rifle mode. Types can be interchanged by changing the outer sleeve of the grenade.
ARDE 40mm UBGL
The 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, is a single shot grenade launcher developed by ARDE and Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli for use with the INSAS and AK-47 rifles used by the Indian Army. Stand alone versions of the grenade launcher exist.
Multi-grenade launcher 40mm
The Milkor MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) is a lightweight 40 mm six-shot revolver-type grenade launcher (variations also fire 37/38mm) developed and manufactured in South Africa by Milkor (Pty) Ltd. The MGL was demonstrated as a concept to the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1981.
In India, Semi automatic six shot 40mm x 46mm low velocity grenade launchers. They are manufactured at Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli.
AT4CS AST
Designed for urban warfare where a projectile heavier than the HEDP AT4 is needed. This projectile combines a HEAT warhead with a shallow cone, which results in low penetration but produces a wide hole, with a follow-through high-blast warhead. It has two settings: one for destroying bunkers and one for mouse-holing a building wall for combat entry.
The Indian Army has them on order.
Carl Gustav RCL M2/M3/M4
The Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle is a Swedish developed 84 mm (3.3 in) calibre man-portable shoulder-fired recoilless rifle, initially developed by the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration.
Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle produced by OFB. M4 variant used by special forces.
B-300 Shipon Explosives
Shipon is an advanced disposable multi-purpose shoulder-launched rocket system consisting of a launch tube and FCS module. The Shipon includes an advanced fire-control system, helping to aim and increasing effective range to 600 metres.
In the Indian Army only special forces can use them.
RPO-A Shmel
The RPO-A Shmel is a man-portable disposable rocket-assisted flamethrower. They are classified as a thermobaric warhead rocket launcher by some in the West. It is designed, produced and exported by the Russian Federation.
They are currently in service in the Indian Army. They were used by the Indian Army in September 2016 for a surgical strike against insurgents in Pakistan’s part of Kashmir successfully.
AGS-30
The AGS-30 Atlanta is a Russian automatic grenade launcher currently in production in Russia and in service with the Russian armed forces.
It is currently in service in the Indian Army.
Mines
A mine is an explosive placed underground or underwater that explodes when disturbed, or when remotely triggered. Mines, unlike bombs, are placed in situ and then require some other stimulus from a target before they will detonate.
List of Indian Army’s Mines :-
| Name | Quantity | Origin |
| Nipun | 7,00,000 | India |
| Prachand | 1,00,000 | India |
| Ulka | 1,00,000 | India |
| Parth | 1,00,000 | India |
References from :-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Indian_Army#Explosives
