Indian Army To Get 114 155-mm 45-calibre Dhanush Howitzers in the Next Three Years

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Army to get 114 Dhanush guns in three years

Army hasn’t inducted any new gun after Bofors scandal​

The Army’s quest for new artillery is nearing completion with the indigenous gun upgraded by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) clearing trials. The Army has placed an indent for 114 guns in the first phase and these will be delivered in three years, informed sources said.

“After the Pokhran fiasco with one barrel-burst, Dhanush barrels were tested in Sikkim under cold conditions and in other temperatures — and came out with flying colours. The Army is fully satisfied,” officials told The Hindu.

A Dhanush prototype suffered a barrel burst during firing trials at Pokhran in August 2013 which delayed the process.

80% indigenous

The initial deal for 114 guns is expected to cost around Rs.1,600 crore. Pleased with the performance of the gun, the Army has given strong indications of an additional order for 481 guns, sources added.

The Dhanush is an upgraded version of the Swedish 155-mm Bofors howitzers bought by India in the mid-1980s based on the original design. It is a 155-mm, 45-calibre gun with a maximum effective range of 38 km in salvo mode compared to the 39-calibre, 27-km range of the original guns. It is 80 per cent indigenous, with the APU (auxiliary power unit), electronic dial sights and a few other small items being imported.

The Army is desperately short of new long-range artillery, having failed to induct any new gun after the Bofors scandal. Recently, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar approved a revised proposal from BAE Systems for 145 Ultra-Light Howitzers for mountainous areas under a government-to-government deal with the United States.

Additionally last November, the DAC cleared the process for purchase of 814 mounted gun systems through the ‘Buy and Make’ category to be built by an Indian private partner in collaboration with a foreign manufacturer.

Source:- Army to get 114 Dhanush guns in three years - The Hindu

 

[OrionHunter]

We need to get a thousand Dhanush howitzers more for carpet bombing and intense fire assaults!

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

​

 

[The Great One]

Army has given strong indications of an additional order for 481 gun

This is the part I like the best. But I want more of DRDO ATAGS. That gun is incredible (on paper). Also per @Kunal Biswas, Dhanush is soon going to have an L52 version.

IMO

• M777 replace all M46 i.e a few thousands in medium category
• Dhanush temporarily supplement original FH77, all to be eventually replaced by DRDO ATAGS
• 105mm is 105mm, can stay although a South African version has a range of 32 km with ERFB-BB ammo, thats more than M777.
• Archer SPH i.e FH77BW in 814 mounted gun tender

Wheeled and tracked IDK.

 

[Donatello]

Next 3 years? I think we should bookmark this thread and see if 3 years is really going to be enough.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

M777 replace all M46 i.e a few thousands in medium category

We are upgrading M46 130mm guns to 155mm/45 cal - 10 artillery regiments (180 guns) have already been upgraded to this standard and the rest (300+ guns) of them will soon be upgraded.

The M-46 upgrade is a delayed response to the army's 1999 Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, which aims by 2027 to acquire 2,800-3,000 155 mm/52-calibre towed, wheeled, tracked and mounted guns and 155 mm/39-calibre lightweight howitzers.

Don't think they all be replaced anytime soon.

Indian Army to Upgrade over 300 M-46s Towed Artillery Guns

Next 3 years? I think we should bookmark this thread and see if 3 years is really going to be enough.

You are free to.

 

[#hydra#]

So IA will chancel the request for new 155/52 towed gun or what?

 

[Echo_419]

Next 3 years? I think we should bookmark this thread and see if 3 years is really going to be enough.

Old feel free to do so

 

[Juggernautjatt]

114 guns in 3 years means 38 per year approx. which is little bit slow. According to some news few weeks back If these guns perform to the army's satisfaction, the order could go up to about 400 guns.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Btw, Ofb Is also working on 52 caliber dhanush. And drdo has a separate 52 caliber one has well.

 

[Echo_419]

114 guns in 3 years means 38 per year approx. which is little bit slow. According to some news few weeks back If these guns perform to the army's satisfaction, the order could go up to about 400 guns.

Production Depends on demand

 

[Killswitch]

Good news. Now they need to up production to 18 guns a month and don't stop until the inventory is filled, regardless of when the ATAG is ready for production. 3 years is far too long. I would give them 1 year top get to 18 a month, and if they didn't make it, heads would roll.

 

[OrionHunter]

Next 3 years? I think we should bookmark this thread and see if 3 years is really going to be enough.

No need to take the trouble of bookmarking etc. Production has already commenced.