M777 ultra-light howitzers to Indian Army

[WolfPack86]

M 777 Ultra Light Howtizer

 

[WolfPack86]

M 777 Ultra Light Howtizer

 

[WolfPack86]

M 777 Ultra Light Howtizer

 

[WolfPack86]

M 777 Ultra Light Howtizer

 

[WolfPack86]

M 777 Ultra Light Howtizer

 

[WolfPack86]

M 777 Ultra Light Howtizer

 

[WolfPack86]

India likely to seek more time, freeze on price to buy howitzers

Despite giving approval to import $750-million 145 BAE Systems’ M777A2 155mm/39 calibre lightweight howitzers from the US through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, India has sought freeze on the price for three more months. Highly-placed sources told FE that “the deadline for signing the deal is September 10, but the ministry of defence (MoD) is planning to seek three-month extension and a freezing of the price of 145 M777A2 LW155 howitzers for the Indian Army”. The initial price notified by the US in 2012 was $694 million and the company has been seeking a 10% hike on the four-year-old price. The negotiation price for the 145 M777 howitzers is $750 million, which India wants to take for its mountain strike corps for offensive operations. The Indian Army plans to use these howitzers in defensive troop deployment spread across the country’s vast rugged terrain. The gun will come with laser inertial artillery pointing systems (LINAPS), maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services. Demonstrating its commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to ‘Make in India’, BAE Systems earlier this year had officially announced selection of Mahindra Defence & Aerospace, Mahindra Group, as its business partner for the proposed in-country assembly, integration & testing (AIT) facility for the M777 ultra lightweight howitzer. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, in June had agreed that 25 of the long-awaited M777s for deployment along the China border would be procured in completed form. While the company will locally discharge 30% of the overall contract value in offsets – which had been separately negotiated – the rest of the 120 guns, according to sources, is expected to be built at BAE Systems AIT facility, which is to be set up here in partnership with Mahindra Group. As reported earlier by FE, the technological challenge involves the use of titanium. The FMS proposal does not envisage a joint venture. Significantly, the gun barrel of the American gun cannot be made in India. This is barred by the Berry Amendment, a Congressional Act in the US. BAE Systems said howitzer deliveries would begin within six months of the contract being signed – likely before the offer expires in August – and be completed within 54 months in accordance with the US government’s Letter of Acceptance for the guns to the MoD in early June.
http://idrw.org/india-likely-to-seek-more-time-freeze-on-price-to-buy-howitzers/

 

[Hari Sud]

Fire the bureacrats and all the politicians who are party to this delay.

Modi/Parikar are unable to sort out this apathy in the bureaucracy. Now we cannot blame Manmohan/Anthony for being inefficient.

 

[sorcerer]

Fire the bureacrats and all the politicians who are party to this delay.

Modi/Parikar are unable to sort out this apathy in the bureaucracy. Now we cannot blame Manmohan/Anthony for being inefficient.

Manohar Parrikar Clears Purchase of 145 M777 Howitzers Worth Rs 4,500 Crore From U.S.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today cleared the proposals for acquiring 145 M777 155 mm ultra-light howitzers from the US.

This is the first time that guns are being purchased for the Army since Bofors in 1987. These are light howitzers which can be flown to the mountain areas and will be deployed along the mountainous lines bordering both Pakistan and China.

India will be buying the 155 mm M777 guns at a cost of about Rs 4500 crore. This is first major buy for the Mountain Strike Corps. Earlier gun-maker BAE systems had tied up with India's Mahindra for the deal.

The proposal had been in the pipeline for several years, despite being cleared more than thrice by the Defence Ministry under Parrikar as well as his UPA predecessor, AK Antony.

The Army has not procured a single howitzer ever since the Bofors guns were acquired from Switzerland in the 1980s.

OTHER PROPOSALS

The other important proposal that the DAC may consider is the acquisition of almost 5,000 combat net radio sets for tactical communication of Army troops. The DAC is to consider if the radio sets should be procured under the Make in India scheme or to be bought from the Israeli firm Elbit, according to the Army proposal.

The Indian Air Force is also likely to put up its proposal to upgrade its unmanned aerial vehicles that would be enhanced to combat platforms under the top secret Project Cheetah.
IAF officials declined to comment on the top secret project, which is likely to cost Rs. 10,000 crore.
Source>>

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

Fire the bureacrats and all the politicians who are party to this delay.

Modi/Parikar are unable to sort out this apathy in the bureaucracy. Now we cannot blame Manmohan/Anthony for being inefficient.

Our bureaucracy was designed by the British to stall everything.They are doing their job very well.

 

[PD_Solo]

Manohar Parrikar Clears Purchase of 145 M777 Howitzers Worth Rs 4,500 Crore From U.S.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today cleared the proposals for acquiring 145 M777 155 mm ultra-light howitzers from the US.

This is the first time that guns are being purchased for the Army since Bofors in 1987. These are light howitzers which can be flown to the mountain areas and will be deployed along the mountainous lines bordering both Pakistan and China.

India will be buying the 155 mm M777 guns at a cost of about Rs 4500 crore. This is first major buy for the Mountain Strike Corps. Earlier gun-maker BAE systems had tied up with India's Mahindra for the deal.

The proposal had been in the pipeline for several years, despite being cleared more than thrice by the Defence Ministry under Parrikar as well as his UPA predecessor, AK Antony.

The Army has not procured a single howitzer ever since the Bofors guns were acquired from Switzerland in the 1980s.

OTHER PROPOSALS

The other important proposal that the DAC may consider is the acquisition of almost 5,000 combat net radio sets for tactical communication of Army troops. The DAC is to consider if the radio sets should be procured under the Make in India scheme or to be bought from the Israeli firm Elbit, according to the Army proposal.

The Indian Air Force is also likely to put up its proposal to upgrade its unmanned aerial vehicles that would be enhanced to combat platforms under the top secret Project Cheetah.
IAF officials declined to comment on the top secret project, which is likely to cost Rs. 10,000 crore.
Source>>

Does this deal also get Excalibur rounds.

 

[mayfair]

When will the contract be signed? After how long before the delivery begins?

Plus, what sort of ToT are we getting? As far as I know, the tech transfer for the manufacture of titanium barrels for M77 is prohibited.

 

[sorcerer]

Does this deal also get Excalibur rounds.

So far on this from a previous article


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.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...e-in-india-component/articleshow/50991035.cms


“We’ve offered to bring the gun’s assembly, integration and testing to India. We have identified over 40 Indian partners to substantially indigenise the components. At the heart of the proposal is to shift the assembly line (from the Hattiesburg, Mississippi facility in the US) to India, and make the gun here under transfer of technology,” said John Kelly, vice president, British Aerospace (BAE)

http://topyaps.com/indian-army-to-get-m777-ultra-light-howitzers

 

[Zebra]

When will the contract be signed? After how long before the delivery begins?

Plus, what sort of ToT are we getting? As far as I know, the tech transfer for the manufacture of titanium barrels for M77 is prohibited.

Sir, thank you for that red color part .

GoI fooled people at least one dozen time by saying this deal been cleared.

And now people don't trust GoI itself, for such shifty attitude.

 

[WolfPack86]

BREAKING: It's finally through -- Indian MoD signs Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for 145 @BAESystemsInc M777 ultra-light howitzers.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

$737-mil FMS contract to be signed between both govts shortly. Deliveries of 25 fully built M777s from mid-2017. Rest
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

Here's @BAESystemsInc's statement on finally closing the M777 deal with India today.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[mayfair]

This fills in a pressing need in our artillery arm. But it is disappointing that there'll be no worthwhile transfer of technology with this deal. The "Make in India" component is actually "Assemble in India".

US law anyway prohibits Titanium barrel technology from being transferred to us, so that was off the table from the go. Regarding the rest, it's unclear what technology Mahindra will actually absorb from this.

I do wish Bharat Forge are given a chance to showcase their ULHs. Hopefully, the new DPP will facilitate that.

 

[Chinmoy]

Sir, thank you for that red color part .

GoI fooled people at least one dozen time by saying this deal been cleared.

And now people don't trust GoI itself, for such shifty attitude.

Seems things are not so shitty after all..................

 

[PD_Solo]

When will the contract be signed? After how long before the delivery begins?

Plus, what sort of ToT are we getting? As far as I know, the tech transfer for the manufacture of titanium barrels for M77 is prohibited.

US foundries have invested billions and decades to mature this tech.

Suppose we get ToT anyhow, still we shall require high precision checking and manufacturing tool base.It requires large sums and years to perfect.

A friend whom I was talking to said that Bharat forge is investing good in advance mettalurgy.If provided access I think that they can get out something from these M777 ULH.