NEW DELHI, — April 14, 2026 : The Indian Army has issued an open tender for the procurement of 572,692 units of 30mm VOG-17/30 high-explosive fragmentation grenades equipped with a self-destruct mechanism (SDM), as part of its ongoing effort to maintain operational ammunition reserves for infantry units.
The Request for Proposal (RFP), released on April 9, 2026, has been issued by the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) under tender reference A/18153/30mm VOG AGL/MGS/Brig Proc. The tender was published approximately five days prior to April 14 and follows the standard Global Tender Enquiry process adopted for such procurements.
Procurement Scope and Timeline
According to the tender document, the total requirement stands at 5,72,692 rounds of 30×29mm VOG-17/30 ammunition. The bidding process is scheduled to open on April 22, 2026, and close on April 29, 2026, with bid opening set for April 30, 2026.
The tender specifies an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹20.27 crore, while the contract execution period has been defined as 730 days. Additionally, the bid validity period is set at 540 days. The procurement will follow a two-cover bidding system, in line with Ministry of Defence procedures.
The acquired ammunition is designated for delivery to the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) in Pulgaon, Maharashtra. No official details regarding the estimated contract value or potential participating vendors have been disclosed.
Ammunition Characteristics and Operational Role
The VOG-17/30 is a 30mm high-explosive fragmentation grenade designed for use in automatic grenade launchers. It is a belted 30×29mm cartridge featuring a thin-walled steel body, a copper driving band, and a pre-fragmented wire coil. The grenade contains approximately 0.032 kg of high explosive and has a total weight of about 0.35 kg.
In operational terms, the ammunition is used for area suppression and anti-personnel roles. It provides effective fire support against personnel in open terrain or behind light cover. The standard VOG-17 variant has a lethal fragmentation radius of approximately 7 metres, while improved variants such as the VOG-30 offer an increased radius.
The grenade has a maximum effective range of up to 1,700 metres and is fired at a muzzle velocity of approximately 185 metres per second.
Platform Compatibility
The ammunition is compatible with the AGS-17 “Plamya” and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers, both of which are currently in service with the Indian Army. These Soviet-origin systems have been deployed since the 1980s and continue to serve as standard platoon-level support weapons, capable of delivering both direct and indirect fire.
Self-Destruct Mechanism and Safety Features
A key technical requirement in the current procurement is the inclusion of a self-destruct mechanism (SDM) integrated into the fuze system. The fuze is of the point-detonating, super-quick type and is designed to arm after the grenade has traveled a safe distance of 10 to 60 metres from the launcher.
If the grenade fails to detonate upon impact, the SDM initiates automatic detonation within 28 to 36 seconds. This feature is intended to reduce the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the battlefield, thereby minimizing risks to military personnel and civilians in post-engagement environments.
Sustained Inventory Management
The Indian Army has operated the AGS-17 and AGS-30 systems for several decades and conducts periodic procurement cycles to replenish ammunition stocks. Previous tenders have included components such as fuzes for VOG-17 grenades and training-related cut models.
The current procurement of complete rounds with integrated SDM reflects a continuation of these sustainment efforts, incorporating updated safety specifications while ensuring compatibility with existing weapon platforms.
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