The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy at a ceremony held in New Delhi on June 26, 2024. This Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOCR) has been developed by DRDO's Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur. It is a technology that obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield around platforms and assets and thus reduces the vulnerability to radar detection.
This medium-range chaff rocket uses special type of fibre with a diameter of few microns and unique microwave ablative properties. When this rocket is fired, it creates a microwave obscuring cloud in space extending over a sufficient area for a sufficient duration and thus forms an effective shield against hostile threats that can intercept radio frequencies.
The first phase trials of MR-MOCR were successfully conducted from Indian Navy ships. During this period, the MOC cloud kept feeding and remained persistent in space. In the second phase trials, reduction of radar cross section (RCS) of aerial target by 90% has been demonstrated and has been approved by the Indian Navy. All the MR-MOCRs meeting the qualification requirements have been successfully delivered to the Indian Navy.
Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO and Indian Navy on the successful development of MR-MOCR. He termed the MOC technology as another step towards making defence self-reliant.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Dr Sameer V Kamat handed over the MR-MOCR to Rear Admiral Brijesh Vashisht, Director General Naval Armament Inspection, Indian Navy. Chairman DRDO congratulated the Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur team for this significant achievement. Director General Naval Armament Inspection also appreciated the efforts of DRDO for indigenously developing this strategically important technology in a short time.