Explained: Why DRDO's new chaff rocket is significant for Indian Navy

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officially handed over the advanced Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy on June 26.

Created by the DRDO at their Jodhpur laboratory, the new Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC) technology is a groundbreaking advancement in the field of defence.

What is Chaff? 

Chaff is a common countermeasure used in electronic warfare to enhance the survivability of military assets by disrupting radar-guided weapons and detection systems and creating a protective microwave shield around platforms and assets.

Chaff refers to small strips of metal or metal-coated material that are deployed from aircraft, ships, or other vehicles to create a cloud of radar reflections. This cloud confuses enemy radar systems, making it difficult for them to detect or track the actual vehicle. 

How does Chaff work?

The Defence Ministry explained that special fibres, just a few microns thick and with unique abilities to block microwaves, had been added to the medium-range chaff rocket.

When the rocket is launched, it creates a cloud in space that blocks microwaves. This cloud spreads out and lasts long enough to effectively shield against such threats as radio frequency-seekers. 

The fibres have special qualities that make them a fascinating and powerful tool for local defence technology. 

How was Microwave Obscurant Chaff developed?

The first phase of the MR-MOCR trials was successfully carried out on Indian Navy ships, demonstrating that the MOC cloud could form and stay in space.

In the second phase, the Indian Navy showed they could reduce the radar cross-section (RCS) of an aerial target by 90 percent. 

This advancement aligns with global trends in electronic warfare, where hiding and protecting assets from radar is becoming more important. 

Why is this significant?

While using chaff rockets for defence is not new, defence experts highlight that adding the ability to block microwaves is a significant innovation. The successful development and deployment of the MR-MOCR highlight India’s growing skill in creating homegrown defence technologies. This project is part of a series of efforts by the DRDO to boost India’s defence capabilities, which include developing various missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare systems. 

The MR-MOCR adds to this collection, showing the DRDO’s ability to provide advanced technologies tailored to the Indian armed forces’ needs. 

Around the world, advanced militaries are also developing and using similar technologies. For instance, the US has been working on different chaff and flare systems to protect its naval and air assets. A flare is a countermeasure used by aircraft and other vehicles to protect against heat-seeking missiles. When deployed, flares produce a bright infrared light and intense heat, which can confuse and divert the incoming missile away from the vehicle. This is because the missile’s guidance system is often attracted to the heat signature of the flare instead of the actual target. Flares are a critical component of electronic warfare, helping to enhance the survivability of military assets.

The MR-MOCR puts India in a strong position in electronic warfare, helping the Indian Navy better protect its ships and maintain its edge in operations.

The author of this article is a Defence and Aerospace Analyst based in Bengaluru.