Bofors ghost finally buried, 155mm howitzers coming for Indian Army

[anant_s]

NEW DELHI: The Bofors jinx has finally been broken after 30 years. After the infamous Bofors scandal of the mid-1980s torpedoed all its artillery modernisation plans, the Army will begin inducting its first modern 155mm howitzers from mid-2017 onwards.

Defence ministry sources said on Wednesday that the cabinet committee on security , chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has cleared the acquisition of 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers from the US in a government-to-government deal worth $737 million (almost Rs 5,000 crore).

The M-777 deal, which has a 30% offset clause, will now be inked within the next two to three weeks. "The Pentagon's letter of offer and acceptance (LoA) to India is valid till November 20, but it can be extended for another 10-15 days," said a source. TOI had earlier reported that the LoA for the M-777 deal, which the two governments have been negotiating since 2009-2010, had expired once again on November 7.There was a scramble by the two sides after that to extend the LoA's validity.

Interestingly, the M-777 howitzers are manufactured by BAE Systems, which now owns the original Swedish Bofors company .

Of the 145 M-777 howitzers, 120 will be "assembled, integrated and tested" in India with BAE Systems selecting Mahindra as its business partner here. The first two howitzers will be delivered within six months of the contract being inked, with the others to follow at the rate of two per month.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...5mm-howitzers-coming/articleshow/55467580.cms

 

[anant_s]

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[4GTejasBVR]

Well it can fire 10 shells in 2 minutes in intensity Mode. That's like using mini MBRL

 

[srshkmr]

I think it was confirmed way back . But now the project is official on which means delivery will start from may 2017 ?

 

[ravi gupta]

I think it was confirmed way back . But now the project is official on which means delivery will start from may 2017 ?

Somebody please tag @Bilalkhan777.

 

[Hell hound]

@Bilal Khan 777 @Bilal Khan (Quwa)

 

[sudhir007]

and what about dhanush & k9 howitzer

 

[Aqeel Imran]

specs tells its hell fire... !! impressed..

 

[Bilal Khan 777]

Congratulations to India on a game changer procurement. This will bring much needed relief to their mountain artillery corps, as they have been tremendously suffering. Additional developments are indigenous and license produced guns coming out of ambitious local manufacturers. Indian Army and Government is finally paying heed to the much needed weapon of the field, and shall erode deeply into the Pakistani and Chinese technical and advantage. Time for Pakistan to invest is 155/52 guns and smart projectiles to keep the balance of guns in their favor.

 

[GURU DUTT]

what about the deal with M&M to make 500 in india under MII and what about the prospects of making a tracked and wheeled version SPG based M777 ?

 

[Mustang06]

Is smart munition's like Excalibur being procured?
Hope we induct sufficient quantity of LWH!

 

[Bilal Khan 777]

what about the deal with M&M to make 500 in india under MII and what about the prospects of making a tracked and wheeled version SPG based M777 ?

There is not going to be additional guns for a while, as the current ones will come and get absorbed in the new and existing mountain corps. I personally feel there will be a tough competition for funds for indigenous weapons versus the M777. That said, and knowing how decision makers think, any future requirement for M777 will continue to come as kits for assembly by Mahindra, the BAE Systems offset partner. The quantity 500 seems to be like a candy used to force BAE Systems to play ball, but the future artillery mix will have a major chunk going to Dhanush due to lower cost and local manufacturing.

and what about dhanush & k9 howitzer

Both programs will continue, as they have their own place in the artillery mix. We may also see BAE Systems Sweden (ex-bofors) join the mix since the blanket black listing law is being amended.

 

[MULUBJA]

and what about dhanush & k9 howitzer

6 dhanush are in testing and K 9 is in making.

 

[GURU DUTT]

There is not going to be additional guns for a while, as the current ones will come and get absorbed in the new and existing mountain corps. I personally feel there will be a tough competition for funds for indigenous weapons versus the M777. That said, and knowing how decision makers think, any future requirement for M777 will continue to come as kits for assembly by Mahindra, the BAE Systems offset partner. The quantity 500 seems to be like a candy used to force BAE Systems to play ball, but the future artillery mix will have a major chunk going to Dhanush due to lower cost and local manufacturing.



Both programs will continue, as they have their own place in the artillery mix. We may also see BAE Systems Sweden (ex-bofors) join the mix since the blanket black listing law is being amended.

wrong sir danush is 12.5tonne plus while M777 is 4.5 tonne and we need at least 750 such guns in china border and J&K sectors alone deu to constant threat of a two front war but the follow on order of simmilar numbers assmelbelled in india cannot be ruled out which would later/gradually mean complete TOT keep watching we always tend to make defence orders like that

 

[MULUBJA]

India has multiple options in artilary now. DRDO 45 and 52 caliber guns, TATA 52 caliber guns, Baba kalyani 45 and 52 cliber guns, M77 etc. Ultra-light gun of baba kalyani is also getting ready. Baba kalyani 105 mm gun is a mini wonder which they made in less than a year. It has changed the dynamics of power. Earlier field gun was 4+ ton heavy and baba kalyani made the gun in 900 KG with 1 km higher range. Awesome.

http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/03/idn-take-amazing-story-of-bharat-52.html

Amazing story of Bharat 52 gun which was made in 2 years.