Balasore (Odisha), Nov 8 (PTI) A weapon museum, describedas the first of its kind in the country, has come up in thepremises of DRDO's Proof and Experimental Establishment atChandipur and boasts of the Vijayanta Tank, which played amajor role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)Chairman and Secretary Department of Defence Dr S Christopher,who was at Chandipur to witness the test fire of IndiaÂ’s firstindigenously designed and developed Long Range Sub-SonicCruise Missile 'Nirbhay', inaugurated the museum yesterday.
"Initially 14 types of weapons used by the Indian AirForce and Navy have been displayed for public view in themuseum. More varieties of weapons will be displayed infuture," PXE Director R Appavuraj said today.
He described the museum as the first of its kind in thecountry.
The main attraction of the museum is Vijayanta Tank,which had played a major role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
The tank has capacity to neutralise enemy bunkers and troopsup to 5 km.
The other defence equipment of the artillery and navalforce which are on display in the museum include WM-18 rocketlauncher, 105 mm Indian field Gun, 122 mm grad BM-21 rocketlauncher, 57 mm anti-tank gun and 40 mm light gun.
"Such a museum was required to impart knowledge andinstill a sense of pride among youths and to make the publicaware of the weaponry used to protect the sovereignty andterritorial integrity of the country," he said.
This museum will be appreciated by tourists as well asstudents visiting Chandipur sea beach, he saidA proposal for setting up the museum had been sent to theCentre sometime back and now it has become a reality afterobtaining sanction from the Ministry of Defence.
PXE is a DRDO establishment where different types ofartillery, shells, field guns, tanks and rockets used by thearmed forces are put to test.
The unit is meant for test, evaluation and proof ofvarious types of armaments. India's 'Pinaka' multi barrelrocket launching (MBRL) systems are also tested here.
Located near the Integrated Test Range (ITR), where testlaunch of all varieties of missiles are conducted, the PXE wasbrought under the administrative control of DRDO in October,1958. PTI COR SKN RGDV.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.