Daksh AMPMP to get LMG, Grenade and night vision to fight terror

Pune: DRDO is developing Daksh Automated mobile platform for Multipurpose Payloads (AMPMP) with terror hunting capabilities. The Research and Development Establishment (R&DE), Dighi, is equipping a Daksh robot with a belt fed 7.62 mm light machine gun, a 30 mm grenade launcher, night vision and thermal imaging equipment. The name of the project is Gun Mounted Robot (GMR). GMR features a Target Tracking System, which enables the guns to move in direction of a moving target after achieving a locking on with the camera. It is expected to handle even the fast moving targets.

The new platform will sport a four times faster and silent electrical engine compared to Daksh. The batteries will be replaced too for enabling GMR to operate at 1km radius. It makes it double the range of Daksh ROV. GMR has an option of two sets of wheels, including for urban role and a pneumatic tyres for cross country application.

DAKSH AMPMP is a remotely operated vehicle equipped with configurable payloads to assume multi-role capability, developed for the Corp of Engineers of the Indian Army. So far DAKSH had improvised explosive device handling, area Reconnaissance and NBC Reconnaissance variants.

The Army, in 2011 December, acquired its first mobile robot – Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ‘Daksh’, meant to handle and clear improvised explosives devices and other hazardous objects. Army is procuring 20 units of the ROV. Daksh ROV is capable of climbing stairs, negotiating cross country terrain and has an on board shotgun for blasting through door locks and breaking the windshield to handle likely car bombs. It is also capable of towing a suspected vehicle away from a crowded area.

The prototype of the GMR is ready and Digi plans to deliver it to the Army in next two years.