Ministry Keen to Purchase 500 More Howitzer Guns from BAE Systems

[Zarvan]

This is in addition to the pending deal to buy 145 towed guns

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to place yet another multi-million dollar order with BAE Systems Inc for purchasing 500 more M777 ultra-light Howitzer guns. This is even as it is all set to sign the pending sale of 145 gun-pack with the UK-headquartered defence major.

Apparently, the Ministry has already expressed its interest to procure 500 pieces for the Indian Army from BAE Systems, according to official sources. However, commercial talks are yet to begin.

On the other hand, the long-pending deal to purchase 145 pieces of the M777 155mm 39 caliber towed guns is learnt to have already reached its final leg and the contract will be signed by the middle of 2016.

“The Indian Army has a huge requirement for modern Land Systems, both weapons and vehicles, and we are well positioned to help India fulfil that,” John Brosnan, Managing Director (South-East Asia and India), BAE Systems, told BusinessLine.

On the company’s future plans, Brosnan said BAE Systems has a longstanding partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on ‘Combat Hawk’ advanced jet trainer (AJT).

The AJTs will be utilised to train Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots.

“We are currently exploring new opportunities for BAeHAL, our joint venture with HAL,” he said.

Brosnan said BAE Systems is working closely with the Indian and US governments to support early conclusion of the M777 deal. “The American government is now in the process of finalising the letter of acceptance (LoA) for submission to the Indian authorities and thereafter the deal can be inked.

“The 145 Howitzers will be procured under this deal with the commitment of assembly, integration and testing here in India under the offset policy,” he said.

However, sources said the new LoA includes a revised price of $735-750 million, an escalation of six to eight per cent from the older price of $694 million, which was finalised in October 2013 under the previous UPA regime.

At that time talks did not progress further until the present government cleared it in May.

BAE also plans to set up an assembly plant with domestic defence firms to manufacture the guns in India under the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

Ministry keen to purchase 500 more Howitzer guns from BAE Systems : The Hindu Business Line - Mobile edition

 

[dadeechi]

This is in addition to the pending deal to buy 145 towed guns

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to place yet another multi-million dollar order with BAE Systems Inc for purchasing 500 more M777 ultra-light Howitzer guns. This is even as it is all set to sign the pending sale of 145 gun-pack with the UK-headquartered defence major.

Apparently, the Ministry has already expressed its interest to procure 500 pieces for the Indian Army from BAE Systems, according to official sources. However, commercial talks are yet to begin.

On the other hand, the long-pending deal to purchase 145 pieces of the M777 155mm 39 caliber towed guns is learnt to have already reached its final leg and the contract will be signed by the middle of 2016.

“The Indian Army has a huge requirement for modern Land Systems, both weapons and vehicles, and we are well positioned to help India fulfil that,” John Brosnan, Managing Director (South-East Asia and India), BAE Systems, told BusinessLine.

On the company’s future plans, Brosnan said BAE Systems has a longstanding partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on ‘Combat Hawk’ advanced jet trainer (AJT).

The AJTs will be utilised to train Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots.

“We are currently exploring new opportunities for BAeHAL, our joint venture with HAL,” he said.

Brosnan said BAE Systems is working closely with the Indian and US governments to support early conclusion of the M777 deal. “The American government is now in the process of finalising the letter of acceptance (LoA) for submission to the Indian authorities and thereafter the deal can be inked.

“The 145 Howitzers will be procured under this deal with the commitment of assembly, integration and testing here in India under the offset policy,” he said.

However, sources said the new LoA includes a revised price of $735-750 million, an escalation of six to eight per cent from the older price of $694 million, which was finalised in October 2013 under the previous UPA regime.

At that time talks did not progress further until the present government cleared it in May.

BAE also plans to set up an assembly plant with domestic defence firms to manufacture the guns in India under the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

Ministry keen to purchase 500 more Howitzer guns from BAE Systems : The Hindu Business Line - Mobile edition

Excellent.

Modi & MP needs to be credited where it is due.

Hope this deal would be closed sooner than later.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

So shifting the line to India seems more good .
This also mean a follow on order for Chinook.

 

[aanshu001]

645 ultra light Howitzer Guns will make sure any Kargil like adventure turned in to one way ticket to hell

 

[Arun Salian]

This is good

I always thought that we will go for 300 M777

But 645 is fantastic
Since this would allow us to completely withdraw the M46 Guns from China border and deploy them against the Lungis

Some times I used to wear lungi.

 

[Indika]

Some times I used to wear lungi.

your ok unless it goes under your ......err lungi.

Do we have money for all this? whats the idea, to bankrupt pakistanis or bankrupt ourselves? No doubt we should spend for defence but putting the entire money in the pot on it is too much.

 

[Killswitch]

No reasn to get excited. This deal has been on the cards for many years and nothing hs even been signed yet. It would be at least 2 years before the first gun is even built.

 

[HariPrasad]

Excellent.

Modi & MP needs to be credited where it is due.

Hope this deal would be closed sooner than later.

More important is that it will be produced locally under make in India. China shall piss. Bloody 500 is a big number.

 

[jaiind]

we should get it under complete TOT by GOI

 

[raj76]

Some times I used to wear lungi.

ab tera kya hoga sal...ya....

 

[Maarkhoor]

What about Dhunush & DRDO155 mm which they developed locally, even TATA and few other companies already developed Howitzers.

 

[Globaltracker81]

What about Dhunush & DRDO155 mm which they developed locally, even TATA and few other companies already developed Howitzers.

I believe M777 category guns are not being produced by any one in India.

 

[Death In Fire]

What about Dhunush & DRDO155 mm which they developed locally, even TATA and few other companies already developed Howitzers.

They are in other categories of artillery guns.M777 is in ultra light category.
Dhanush is already under production.

 

[GR!FF!N]

What about Dhunush & DRDO155 mm which they developed locally, even TATA and few other companies already developed Howitzers.

Dhanush---114 on order.

Army to soon induct indigenous artillery gun ‘Dhanush’ a.k.a ‘desi bofors’ | The Indian Express

DRDO 155- On development.

TATA,Kalyani and other groups made tie ups to for Various Indian Guns,trials are going on.

L&T already won a tender to deliver 100 K-9 SPHs.

 

[sharma1111]

Why do we want to waste billion $ on imported howitzer.


BAE howitzer is light and fit for mountain warfare but we sholdnt waste money on artillery guns