Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted test firing of new tank ammunition Pene¬¬tration-Cum Blast (PCB) and Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition, specially designed for Arjun Tank at Chandipur, Odisha on 6th Jan 2016.

The trials were found to be very effective and the damage was devastating with the firing of ammunition successfully destroying the target tank and severely damaging its turret, barrel, tracks, ammunition bin, various sights, antennas etc.

The ammunition have been developed by Pune based DRDO laboratories Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

An innovative chemical composition has been developed by HEMRL after extensive research for the TB ammunition. During the development phase, these ammunitions were extensively evaluated against different simulated targets viz., armour plates, concrete structures and fortifications.

The trials were conducted jointly with Army and was aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ammunitions on derelict tank fitted with instrumentation to measure the shocks, blast pressure and temperature at various locations and on advanced imaging systems. The trials were unique as for the first time such evaluation is carried out in India which will give a quantum jump in the fire-power of Arjun tanks.

The technical trials were witnessed by Directors of HEMRL & PXE, Director DQRS, Army representatives and other senior officials from DRDO.