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Indian Defence Minister Clears Deck for Acquisition of M777 Howitzers!

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Indian Defence Minister Clears Deck for Acquisition of M777 Howitzers, Avro Replacement and Kamov Helos; Okays IAC 2 Preparatory Work!

India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who heads the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on Wednesday evening cleared several defence projects, giving impetus to the present government's 'Make in India' initiative.

Giving a major fillip to the Indian Army, which has been bothered by the shortage of artillery, the DAC okayed the acquisition of 145 pieces of BAE's M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers worth Rs 2,700 crore. This will be a government-to-government deal with the US via Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. However, the maintenance and ammunition will be via Indian systems.

BAE had proposed to invest in India by partnering with a private company and setting up a production unit.

In the DAC meet, Parrikar asked for more details on the Airbus-Tata proposal for the replacement of the aging 56 Avro transportation planes. Airbus had suggested Avro be replaced with C-295 transport aircraft.

However, the clearance for the project was withheld due to this being the sole bidder for the replacement project. In case of a sole bidder, only the DAC has the authority to clear it. The aircraft will be costing Rs 119.29 billion, of which 16 planes will be imported and the rest will be made in India for the Indian Air Force. Reports also suggest that there could be an expansion of the number of aircraft to include an order for the Indian Coast Guard too.

Parrikar has also given a go ahead for the manufacture of 200 Ka 226T light utilityhelicopters from Kamov. In December last year, when Putin visited New Delhi, he had offered a Kamov manufacturing facility in India. The company already has an office in Bangalore. Sources said that some Helos could be brought off the shelf. Price and other modalities will be worked out at a later stage.



The work for the second indigenous aircraft carrier IAC 2 will begin soon as the DAC has allotted Rs 30 crore for "commencement of preparatory work for construction of Indian Aircraft Carrier 2".




It was also decided that the ageing Jumbo Jets being used as VVIP aircraft will now be replaced with Boeing 777-300 extended range (ER), belonging to national carrier Air India. These jets will fly Indian President and Prime Minister on their foreign tours. These aircraft could be fitted with advanced self-protection suites and encrypted satellite communication facilities without additional costs.

It was also decided that the Talwar and Delhi class ships of Indian Navy will be fitted with six new BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems. BrahMos has a range of 290 km. This will cost about Rs 2,700 crore.

Some other proposals cleared by DAC:

  • Tele-medicine facilities for Indian Navy worth Rs 61.59 crore
  • ALG communication terminal for Indian Air Force worth Rs 149 crore
  • Modernisation of Kochi Naval Ship Repair for Rs 3 crore
  • Clearance to financial clauses in the follow-on order of 36 Pilatus basic trainer aircraft
The minister's decisions will sure give a boost to India's private defence companies. These deals will perhaps soon see a manufacturing unit in India which might even become a global hub in the future.


Indian Defence Minister Clears Deck for Acquisition of M777 Howitzers, Avro Replacement and Kamov Helos; Okays IAC 2 Preparatory Work
 
There was this DRDO gun called Dhanush doing the rounds. What is its status now?
Dhanush has cleared trials.
It will be procured by the Army, next.
The desi howitzer, christened Dhanush, can outgun the original Swedish Bofors 155mm artillery gun in range, accuracy, reliability, angle of fire and shoot-and-scoot capabilities.
"The first order for 114 guns worth Rs 1,260 crore, already indented by the Army, would be completed in a three-year timeframe. The production capacity will go up to 30-35 guns a year. The Army has said it eventually requires 414 such guns," said a source.
Trials a hit, desi Bofors outguns Swedish original - The Times of India
 
Dhanush has cleared trials.
It will be procured by the Army, next.

Trials a hit, desi Bofors outguns Swedish original - The Times of India

OFB has already received "Letter of Intent" for 114 units of 155mm x 45 calibre Artillery guns i.e. Dhanush.

Once ongoing Trials are completed by 2015. All 114 guns are to be delivered to the Army within a maximum of 36 months from accord of Bulk Production Clearance.

If these guns perform well, this order could rise to 414 guns.

Better still DAC has cleared Tender for Towed Gun Systems (TGS) and Mounted Gun System (MGS) for a total of 1,800 Guns :D . This will be under ‘Make in India" and will be inducted in 2018 :tup:
 
Biggest jolt will be felt in neighborhood when Apache , Chinooks deal will be signed in few days ... Latest UN report suggest India would grow at 8.1% 2015-16 .So sufficient funds will be available for more shopping from next year. What we had till now wr pending deals. So New govt will like to make its mark on defense preparedness .And it's gonna be much precise and much more power packed deal .

Oops forgot About FGFA :D

OFB has already received "Letter of Intent" for 114 units of 155mm x 45 calibre Artillery guns i.e. Dhanush.

Once ongoing Trials are completed by 2015. All 114 guns are to be delivered to the Army within a maximum of 36 months from accord of Bulk Production Clearance.

If these guns perform well, this order could rise to 414 guns.

Better still DAC has cleared Tender for Towed Gun Systems (TGS) and Mounted Gun System (MGS) for a total of 1,800 Guns :D . This will be under ‘Make in India" and will be inducted in 2018 :tup:

So u literally mean IA ARTILLERY gonna be a bad as :D
 
In what will be a major fillip to the private defence manufacturing sector, the government has cleared three 'Make in India' contracts worth $3.4 billion, including a project to procure US-origin M777 artillery guns.

India's Ordnance Factory Board has already developed the electronically upgraded desi version of the original Swedish 155mm Bofors howitzer, and the guns are currently at the trial stage. DRDO is also developing an advanced all-electric gun system.

We take a look at the M777 artillery guns that India is looking to procure:
us-origin-m777-howitzers.jpg

The ultra-light howitzers could be partly made locally with BAE proposing to set up a production unit here in partnership with a private firm.

In the race for this $700-million deal are Mahindra, L&T and Tata, who can get a share in the ammunition, spares and maintenance of the guns.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
could-be-partly-made-locally.jpg

BAE spokesperson told ET that AIT facility is an integral part of its proposal and the company will now proceed with choosing its local partners.

BAE's howitzer was first considered in 2008 by the UPA regime but the idea was buried in 2013 thanks to differences over price and offset commitments.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
first-considered-in-2008.jpg

The army, which is in dire need of new artillery guns, has requested an initial quantity of 145 ultralight howitzers — a number that could increase.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
145-ultralight-howitzers.jpg

M777 is a 155mm 39 caliber towed gun. According to BAE, the weapon can strike over extended distances, regardless of terrain.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
39-caliber-towed-gun.jpg


Maximum unassisted: 24.7 km

Maximum assisted: 30+ km

BAE claims that the M777 howitzer is portable by land, sea and air.

BAE Systems photo
range-according-to-bae.jpg

Meanwhile, India's upgraded desi version of the original Swedish 155mm Bofors howitzer is currently in the trial stage.

The artillery gun has been christened 'Dhanush'. They have been upgraded to 45-calibre from the original 39-calibre to give the new howitzer a 38-km range compared to the 30-km of the original Bofors gun.

Image by DPR, Ministry of Defence
dhanush.jpg

Both the Army and OFB, in fact, are 'quite excited' about Dhanush, which they claim performs '20-25% better' than the original Bofors gun in virtually all parameters like range, accuracy, consistency, low and high angle of fire and shoot-and-scoot ability.

Image by DPR, Ministry of Defence
20-25-better.jpg
 
In what will be a major fillip to the private defence manufacturing sector, the government has cleared three 'Make in India' contracts worth $3.4 billion, including a project to procure US-origin M777 artillery guns.

India's Ordnance Factory Board has already developed the electronically upgraded desi version of the original Swedish 155mm Bofors howitzer, and the guns are currently at the trial stage. DRDO is also developing an advanced all-electric gun system.

We take a look at the M777 artillery guns that India is looking to procure:
us-origin-m777-howitzers.jpg

The ultra-light howitzers could be partly made locally with BAE proposing to set up a production unit here in partnership with a private firm.

In the race for this $700-million deal are Mahindra, L&T and Tata, who can get a share in the ammunition, spares and maintenance of the guns.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
could-be-partly-made-locally.jpg

BAE spokesperson told ET that AIT facility is an integral part of its proposal and the company will now proceed with choosing its local partners.

BAE's howitzer was first considered in 2008 by the UPA regime but the idea was buried in 2013 thanks to differences over price and offset commitments.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
first-considered-in-2008.jpg

The army, which is in dire need of new artillery guns, has requested an initial quantity of 145 ultralight howitzers — a number that could increase.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
145-ultralight-howitzers.jpg

M777 is a 155mm 39 caliber towed gun. According to BAE, the weapon can strike over extended distances, regardless of terrain.

US Army Photo provided by BAE Systems
39-caliber-towed-gun.jpg


Maximum unassisted: 24.7 km

Maximum assisted: 30+ km

BAE claims that the M777 howitzer is portable by land, sea and air.

BAE Systems photo
range-according-to-bae.jpg

Meanwhile, India's upgraded desi version of the original Swedish 155mm Bofors howitzer is currently in the trial stage.

The artillery gun has been christened 'Dhanush'. They have been upgraded to 45-calibre from the original 39-calibre to give the new howitzer a 38-km range compared to the 30-km of the original Bofors gun.

Image by DPR, Ministry of Defence
dhanush.jpg

Both the Army and OFB, in fact, are 'quite excited' about Dhanush, which they claim performs '20-25% better' than the original Bofors gun in virtually all parameters like range, accuracy, consistency, low and high angle of fire and shoot-and-scoot ability.

Image by DPR, Ministry of Defence
20-25-better.jpg
The M777+ CH-47F combo is going to make the new MSC a real force to be reckoned with.





Let's hope that with the Indian economy taking off the MoD gets a nice hike next year, nothing too alarming that would throw the "poverty brigade" into overdrive, keep it around 2% of GDP and that will equal around $50BN for the MoD next year.

If the GoI wants to be really serious about defence and put its money behind its rhetoric and show the nation how committed they are to defence and plugging the gaps they could increase defence spending (temporarily) to 2.5% of GDP in 2017 and that would leave the defence budget at a whopping $70BN!! Maintain 2.5% for just five years and the Indian military will be in fighting shape across the board by 2022. Right now it is in a bit of a hole and it is going to take a very long time to get out of it.
 
The original LOA has expired already. Why is there a delay?
The original LOA encompassed a pure commercial sale (through FMS) of 145 M777 only. The talks on now are for the sale to India of 645 M777A2 LW155 to be Assembled, Intergrated and Tested (AIT) by Mahindra in India with scope to serve a third party for exports.

Clearly there is a lot more to work out now and the earlier LOA is irrelevant.
 

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