The first batch of indigenously-made Multi-Mode Hand Grenades (MMHG) was handed over to the Indian Army in presence Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Nagpur on Tuesday.

The grenade, which is not just more lethal, but is also safer to use, has a distinctive design that gives flexibility of employment in both defensive (fragmentation) and offensive (stun) modes.

It has a highly accurate delay time, very high reliability in usage and safe for carriage. These new grenades will replace Grenade No 36 of World War I vintage design, which had been continuing in service till date.

The grenades were manufactured by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) following Transfer of Technology from Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

Chairman of EEL S N Nuwal handed over a scale replica of MMHG to the Defence Minister to mark the first delivery of ammunition from the private sector.

Chief of the Army Staff General M M Naravane, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy and Director General, Infantry Lt Gen A K Samantra were among those present on the occasion.

Terming the handing over of MMHG as a shining example of the increasing collaboration between the public and private sectors and a big step towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing,  Singh said: “Today is a memorable day in the history of the Indian defence sector. Our private industry is coming of age when it comes to defence production. It is an important milestone not only in the field of defence manufacturing, but also in achieving Atma Nirbhar Bharat as envisioned by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

Lauding the DRDO and EEL for the speedy delivery of the order amidst Covid-19 restrictions and hoped of a faster delivery of the next lot, Singh listed out the measures undertaken by the Government to transform the defence sector into a self-reliant industry which can cater to the present and the future needs of the Armed Forces.

The EEL had signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence on October 01, 2020 to supply 10 lakh modern hand grenades for Indian Army and Indian Air Force.

The deliveries would be spread over two years from the bulk production clearance, which was accorded to EEL in March 2021. The first order has been delivered within five months.