155mm Dhanush MK2 of 52 caliber

[Kunal Biswas]

Work on version 2 of the Dhanush was also under way, officials said. "The sub-systems for this product are being developed and once this gun fires successfully, work on the next-generation Dhanush would gather momentum."

Dhanush heads for summer trials

====================

Shared By @ladder

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Indian Army to receive Dhanush howitzers by end of year

OFB said that the work on the second Dhanush version is also under way. The sub-systems are being developed and, once this gun fires successfully, work on the next-generation Dhanush would gather momentum

Source : Indian Army to receive Dhanush howitzers by end of year - Army Technology

 

[Kay]

Isn't DRDO (ARDE) building a 155mm 52 cal gun?

 

[Lions Of Punjab]

Sir ji , it specifically does not mention about 52 cal .

It can also be a better 45 cal variant developed from this .

 

[sgarg]

45 cal is fine. A gun with 38km range is more than enough. The critical thing is to deliver to army and stabilize production.

These guns are needed in mountainous areas in numbers. M-46 is still good for plains.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

This is a OFB self initiated program, In a way its a competition ..

Dhanush has everything required and more in it, Their is no improvement can be done on it ..

Army requirement was always 52cal gun, DRDO is still working on papers as per Army specs, Where Dhanush is already being fielded and more importantly Dhanush design enable it to mount a bigger gun, Same as Bofors BO5 which was a fav contender in Army`s Arty tender, We are expecting OFB Dhnush MK2 in service before DRDO 155mm gun which is a feather light and perfect for heli-lift ..

Isn't DRDO (ARDE) building a 155mm 52 cal gun?

Sir ji , it specifically does not mention about 52 cal .

It can also be a better 45 cal variant developed from this .

45 cal is fine. A gun with 38km range is more than enough. The critical thing is to deliver to army and stabilize production.

These guns are needed in mountainous areas in numbers. M-46 is still good for plains.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

For Information regarding Dhanush of 45cal, Follow this thread >>

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/indian-army/56788-dhanush-indian-bofors-13.html

=============

Post related to Dhanush 45cal moved on dedicated Dhanush thread ..

 

[power_monger]

Re: Indian Army Artillery

OFB is also working on a 52 cal Dhanush. 52 cal Dhanush is more of an upgrade and a way to gain production experience. - Saurav Jha

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I hope to see this come faster ..

 

[Prashant12]

52 cal Dhanush Howitzer

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Dhanush in 52cal ..

 

[garg_bharat]

Million dollar question: Did Army trial Dhanush 52 cal?

 

[HariPrasad-1]

Dhanush 44 caliber has 39 KM range so we may expect atleast 45 Km range

 

[Gessler]

An interesting piece by analyst Prasun K. Sengupta about the artillery procurement programs;

1) Firstly, after NaMo cracked the whip last November on-board the INS Vikramaditya during the annual Combined Commander’s Conference, all procurement exercises & plans are now being broken down into CRITICAL, IMPORTANT & ESSENTIAL categories. Consequently, the IA no longer enjoys the luxury of procuring four types of 155mm howitzers.

Consequently, topmost priority will be given to hardware accretions reqd for mountain warfare & under the CRITICAL category, 814 MGS like the Caesar will be procured soonest, followed by 145 LW-155/M-777 ultralightweight howitzers & 414 Dhanush 45-cal towed howitzers.

OFB officials told me at the expo that the 155mm/52-cal towed version was developed way back in 2011 for plains-based warfare, but the IA prefers the 45-cal solution for areas like Ladakh & Sikkim & Tawang because it is easier to transport & deploy over mountainous terrain.

In addition, if at all towed 155mm/52-cal howitzers are to be acquired to replace the 130mm M-46s, then the OFB option will be selected simply because of the sheer commonalty it shares with existing FH-77Bs & also with the Pinaka-1 MBRLs. This will not only simplify battlefield logistics, but will also reduce acquisition costs. Need of the hour is to cut costs wherever possible without compromising on quality & firepower. I also fully concur with the OFB’s PoV that the ATAGS will end up as yet another of the DRDO’s products that has been (like the Tejas Mk.1 LCA) developed of/by/for scientists. After all, the OFB has been in existence since 1780 AD, while the DRDO knows next-to-nothing about tubed field artillery! Therefore, the IA will not go for tracked SPHs of any type as they’re totally useless for mountain warfare.

2) MGS can be manoeuvred with far greater ease along mountainous terrain than towed howitzers. Plus, the truck used for towing the howitzer can instead be used for carrying ammo reloads & BMCS charges.

3) 105mm howitzers don’t offer the kind of hit accuracy that 155mm howitzers do. Furthermore, the 105mm IFGs made by OFB have severe problems with barrel life. Hence the decision to do away with the IFGs.

4) The OFB’s 155mm towed howitzers like the 45-cal & 52-cal versions of the Dhanush share a very degree of commonality with existing FH-77Bs & also the Pinaka MBRLs (both use the same RLG-INS & artillery fire-direction system), all of which greatly reduces the IA’s battlefield logistics headaches & acquisition costs. The Caesar also uses the same SIGMA-30 RLG-INS as that used by the Dhanush & Pinaka. The Trajan is an entirely different system that will only increase the acquisition costs.

5) BHharat Forge/Kalyani Group is wasting its time,. Just like TATA Power SED, in trying to bid for the MGS & towed howitzer competitions. The MoD has already decreed that all 155mm howitzers of all types will be built ONLY BY OFB.

@abingdonboy @PARIKRAMA @Kunal Biswas @Superdefender

 

[Gessler]

An interesting piece by analyst Prasun K. Sengupta about the artillery procurement programs;

1) Firstly, after NaMo cracked the whip last November on-board the INS Vikramaditya during the annual Combined Commander’s Conference, all procurement exercises & plans are now being broken down into CRITICAL, IMPORTANT & ESSENTIAL categories. Consequently, the IA no longer enjoys the luxury of procuring four types of 155mm howitzers.

Consequently, topmost priority will be given to hardware accretions reqd for mountain warfare & under the CRITICAL category, 814 MGS like the Caesar will be procured soonest, followed by 145 LW-155/M-777 ultralightweight howitzers & 414 Dhanush 45-cal towed howitzers.

OFB officials told me at the expo that the 155mm/52-cal towed version was developed way back in 2011 for plains-based warfare, but the IA prefers the 45-cal solution for areas like Ladakh & Sikkim & Tawang because it is easier to transport & deploy over mountainous terrain.

In addition, if at all towed 155mm/52-cal howitzers are to be acquired to replace the 130mm M-46s, then the OFB option will be selected simply because of the sheer commonalty it shares with existing FH-77Bs & also with the Pinaka-1 MBRLs. This will not only simplify battlefield logistics, but will also reduce acquisition costs. Need of the hour is to cut costs wherever possible without compromising on quality & firepower. I also fully concur with the OFB’s PoV that the ATAGS will end up as yet another of the DRDO’s products that has been (like the Tejas Mk.1 LCA) developed of/by/for scientists. After all, the OFB has been in existence since 1780 AD, while the DRDO knows next-to-nothing about tubed field artillery! Therefore, the IA will not go for tracked SPHs of any type as they’re totally useless for mountain warfare.

2) MGS can be manoeuvred with far greater ease along mountainous terrain than towed howitzers. Plus, the truck used for towing the howitzer can instead be used for carrying ammo reloads & BMCS charges.

3) 105mm howitzers don’t offer the kind of hit accuracy that 155mm howitzers do. Furthermore, the 105mm IFGs made by OFB have severe problems with barrel life. Hence the decision to do away with the IFGs.

4) The OFB’s 155mm towed howitzers like the 45-cal & 52-cal versions of the Dhanush share a very degree of commonality with existing FH-77Bs & also the Pinaka MBRLs (both use the same RLG-INS & artillery fire-direction system), all of which greatly reduces the IA’s battlefield logistics headaches & acquisition costs. The Caesar also uses the same SIGMA-30 RLG-INS as that used by the Dhanush & Pinaka. The Trajan is an entirely different system that will only increase the acquisition costs.

5) BHharat Forge/Kalyani Group is wasting its time,. Just like TATA Power SED, in trying to bid for the MGS & towed howitzer competitions. The MoD has already decreed that all 155mm howitzers of all types will be built ONLY BY OFB.

@abingdonboy @PARIKRAMA @Kunal Biswas @Superdefender

Going by this statement;

814 NEXTER Caesar 155mm 52-cal motorized gun system (self-propelled arty) on 6x6 all-terrain trucks (Ashok Leyland)

145 BAE M-777 155mm 39-cal ultra-light howitzers (towed)

414 OFB Dhanush 155mm 45-cal howitzers (towed)

A total of about 1400 new artillery pieces are needed under a critical requirement. All of them will be 155mm, but in 52, 45 and 39-caliber ammunition types. That about sums up the artillery modernization plans for now.

 

[garg_bharat]

Consequently, topmost priority will be given to hardware accretions reqd for mountain warfare & under the CRITICAL category, 814 MGS like the Caesar will be procured soonest, followed by 145 LW-155/M-777 ultralightweight howitzers & 414 Dhanush 45-cal towed howitzers.

According to news reports, Dhanush is already being delivered.
M-777 orders are placed.
MGS - no news of an order.
As you say MGS is in "critical" category, any advance news when orders will be placed?

BHharat Forge/Kalyani Group is wasting its time,. Just like TATA Power SED, in trying to bid for the MGS & towed howitzer competitions. The MoD has already decreed that all 155mm howitzers of all types will be built ONLY BY OFB.

So you say that MOD will simply import MGS and disregard bids from Tata and Bharat Forge.
Yours is a BIG statement.

Then you say all guns will be made by OFB! Is there a contradiction here? Is MGS going to be made by OFB?

 

[Gessler]

According to news reports, Dhanush is already being delivered.
M-777 orders are placed.
MGS - no news of an order.
As you say MGS is in "critical" category, any advance news when orders will be placed?



So you say that MOD will simply import MGS and disregard bids from Tata and Bharat Forge.
Yours is a BIG statement.

Then you say all guns will be made by OFB! Is there a contradiction here? Is MGS going to be made by OFB?

It's not me who's making these statements, it's Prasun K. Sengupta. I already mentioned that. You can contact him on his blog and ask for explanations.

As of MGS, first a winning bidder must be selected. Only then can orders be placed.

According to the same analyst, the Caesar is most likely to win.

 

[garg_bharat]

What is there to read or even ask a question.

Prasun may be a credible source for you but not for me.

He WAS a good source (in previous govt.). Times have changed.

My basic point is if there is something so cut and dry, it should have happened already.

If it did not happen, then there is a problem. The government is not intentionally delaying contracts.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

45cal is same as 52cal in terms of range with regular rounds, His assumption or source that tells him that 45cal has use for specific terrain by Army is incorrect ..

Tracked SPGH are very much needed at present, Army presently improvising with Catapult systems which are now mounted on Arjun chassis, Their is a need for 40 system of catapult and addition 80 when first batches delivered to Army, Army already chosen Korean SPGH for mass production, This will be suppliment to already operating catapults, I am not sure how he missed this ..

Army as well as BSF are ordering more IFG, The new once are more lethal with a range of 24kms compare to 17kms previously, IFG are irreplaceable considering their use in our terrain where big guns even M777 cannot be deployed, From Army background he should know this ..

OFB alone cannot fulfill all the orders, Private sector has to be involved if Army has to equipped fast enough ..

An interesting piece by analyst Prasun K. Sengupta about the artillery procurement programs;

1) Firstly, after NaMo cracked the whip last November on-board the INS Vikramaditya during the annual Combined Commander’s Conference, all procurement exercises & plans are now being broken down into CRITICAL, IMPORTANT & ESSENTIAL categories. Consequently, the IA no longer enjoys the luxury of procuring four types of 155mm howitzers.

Consequently, topmost priority will be given to hardware accretions reqd for mountain warfare & under the CRITICAL category, 814 MGS like the Caesar will be procured soonest, followed by 145 LW-155/M-777 ultralightweight howitzers & 414 Dhanush 45-cal towed howitzers.

OFB officials told me at the expo that the 155mm/52-cal towed version was developed way back in 2011 for plains-based warfare, but the IA prefers the 45-cal solution for areas like Ladakh & Sikkim & Tawang because it is easier to transport & deploy over mountainous terrain.

In addition, if at all towed 155mm/52-cal howitzers are to be acquired to replace the 130mm M-46s, then the OFB option will be selected simply because of the sheer commonalty it shares with existing FH-77Bs & also with the Pinaka-1 MBRLs. This will not only simplify battlefield logistics, but will also reduce acquisition costs. Need of the hour is to cut costs wherever possible without compromising on quality & firepower. I also fully concur with the OFB’s PoV that the ATAGS will end up as yet another of the DRDO’s products that has been (like the Tejas Mk.1 LCA) developed of/by/for scientists. After all, the OFB has been in existence since 1780 AD, while the DRDO knows next-to-nothing about tubed field artillery! Therefore, the IA will not go for tracked SPHs of any type as they’re totally useless for mountain warfare.

2) MGS can be manoeuvred with far greater ease along mountainous terrain than towed howitzers. Plus, the truck used for towing the howitzer can instead be used for carrying ammo reloads & BMCS charges.

3) 105mm howitzers don’t offer the kind of hit accuracy that 155mm howitzers do. Furthermore, the 105mm IFGs made by OFB have severe problems with barrel life. Hence the decision to do away with the IFGs.

4) The OFB’s 155mm towed howitzers like the 45-cal & 52-cal versions of the Dhanush share a very degree of commonality with existing FH-77Bs & also the Pinaka MBRLs (both use the same RLG-INS & artillery fire-direction system), all of which greatly reduces the IA’s battlefield logistics headaches & acquisition costs. The Caesar also uses the same SIGMA-30 RLG-INS as that used by the Dhanush & Pinaka. The Trajan is an entirely different system that will only increase the acquisition costs.

5) BHharat Forge/Kalyani Group is wasting its time,. Just like TATA Power SED, in trying to bid for the MGS & towed howitzer competitions. The MoD has already decreed that all 155mm howitzers of all types will be built ONLY BY OFB.

@abingdonboy @PARIKRAMA @Kunal Biswas @Superdefender

 

[Navnit Kundu]

45cal is same as 52cal in terms of range with regular rounds

What are the core differentiating factors between 45 cal and 52 cal if range is a redundant factor?