M777 ultra-light howitzers to Indian Army

cannonfodder

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US plans to sell M777 howitzers to India; deal to involve ‘Make in India’ component



The US has finalised a proposal to sell M777 ultra-light howitzers to India under a direct government-to-government deal, with Washington expected to send a formal ‘Letter of Acceptance’ this week. The light artillery gun deal, worth over $700 million, will also involve a significant ‘Make in India’ component with Mahindra expected to bag a major share of the work contract.

Sources have told ET that the LOA, which is the final step from the US in a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract like this, has been finalised and is to be presented to South Block this week. This would be followed by an acceptance from the Indian side and subsequently transfer of an advance after which deliveries of 145 guns would commence.

At least two M777 light howitzers are expected to be delivered to India this year as part of the deal so that the army can generate its ‘range tables’ – a calibration for the various types of Indian made ammunition that the guns would fire once in service.

The deal for M777 howitzers under the FMS route has been in process since 2008 and has seen several ups and downs, including the possibility of being scrapped. The contract was revived last year by the Modi government under a new deal that included aMake in India component.


http://idrw.org/us-plans-to-sell-m777-howitzers-to-india-deal-to-involve-make-in-india-component/
 

tharun

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I don't understand M777 range is 25-37km with powerful rounds...
Why can't we use more pinaka it has more range and more powerful.....
 

garg_bharat

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I guess arty rounds are much cheaper than pinaka. Pinaka is not suitable for tall mountains.

Arty can work in direct fire mode.
 

garg_bharat

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This seems like a good purchase, though very expensive. A similar gun made in india will cost one third.
 

garg_bharat

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This should be in addition to Indian made guns from ofb and private sector.
 

Superdefender

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Chinook has not arrived. Can MI-17 V5 Heavylift chopper carry single M-777 for now?
 

Nuvneet Kundu

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I guess arty rounds are much cheaper than pinaka. Pinaka is not suitable for tall mountains.

Arty can work in direct fire mode.
It's the other way round. Arty rounds are unguided projectiles used in indirect fire mode, need calculations prior to firing and are constrained by the laws of gravity, Pinaka is a guided missile system. Pinaka is a much more sophisticated version of Smerch, which was used during Kargil, it is very much suitable.

Chinook has not arrived. Can MI-17 V5 Heavylift chopper carry single M-777 for now?
Yup. Mi-17 can carry one M777 on sling load with zero internal load.
 
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Chinmoy

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This seems like a good purchase, though very expensive. A similar gun made in india will cost one third.
Problem is, you could make a similiar gun, but with the given metallurgy state at present, you can't make a light howitzer, ;eave alone a ultra light one, atleast for coming few years.
 

kaboom!

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I don't understand M777 range is 25-37km with powerful rounds...
Why can't we use more pinaka it has more range and more powerful.....
M777 is light weight howitzer(artillery gun) i.e. it can be carried around by a chinook helicopter(pinaka and other cannot be)
It will primarily be used by the mountain strike corps against the chinese in the hilly terrain where conventional artillery cant reach.
 

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