During the auspicious festival of Vijayadashami, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh conducted a sacred weapon worship at the Bhuj military station in Gujarat. He specially performed rituals on the L-70 air defense gun, which recently played a pivotal role in thwarting Pakistani intrusions during Operation Sindoor. Despite its vintage status, the upgraded gun amazed everyone by bringing down enemy drones from the sky.
The L-70 is a 40mm anti-aircraft gun originally manufactured by Sweden's Bofors company. India acquired it in the 1960s, and it has since been fully upgraded with indigenous technology. This gun can fire 240 to 330 rounds per minute and targets up to 3.5 to 4 kilometers away.
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Equipped with radar, electro-optical sensors, and an auto-tracking system, the gun swiftly identifies drones and aerial threats. Indian company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has modernized it to ensure it remains at the forefront of drone warfare.
Operation Sindoor commenced in May 2025. Pakistan attempted to breach India's defense systems from Leh to Sir Creek using a drone swarm attack, but the Indian Army thwarted it in record time.
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This operation revealed vulnerabilities in Pakistan's air defense and demonstrated India's ability to deliver a powerful response anytime, anywhere. The synergy between the army, navy, and air force was so robust that every enemy plan failed.
Source: aajtak
Range: 4 kilometers
Targets: Drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft
Rate of Fire: 300 rounds per minute
Guidance System: Radar-based fire control system
Deployment: Both static and mobile
Contribution: The L-70 played a crucial role in destroying Pakistani drones, especially in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir regions. Its accuracy and rapid firing made it highly effective.
The L-70 gun was key in Operation Sindoor. Pakistan launched a drone attack, but the L-70 successfully shot down most of the drones. It proved highly effective against swarming attacks, targeting drones 3,500 meters away with 300 rounds per minute.
The Pakistani drone attack in Jammu was also thwarted by this gun. Along with Zu-23, Shilka, and S-400, the L-70 set a new standard in drone warfare, enabling India to secure victory with minimal damage.
