Dhanush the Indian Bofors

Twinblade

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OFB Head's interview.

India has not developed or acquired 155 mm howitzers since Bofors. The urgency and importance of artillery fi eld guns cannot be overemphasised. The barrel of the gun developed by OFB came off during trials recently further delaying the induction process. What went wrong and when can the country expect to have a world-class artillery field gun? What steps do you propose to take to fast forward the production and induction programmes of many other arms and ammunitions that have long been in the OFB pipeline?

Sartaj Singh: 155 mm x 45 Calibre Artillery Gun Project 'Dhanush' is progressing as per schedule. This is our first major project to provide user a state-of-the-art weapon comparable to the best of the world. The developmental exercise is going through the required cycle of trial evaluation, analysis and improvement. We are confident to meet the functional and quality requirements of Indian Army.
There are many other projects where OFB is working with DRDO and other institutes of excellence for development of new weapon and ammunition systems. In the coming years we will be introducing futuristic weapon systems as per the vision documents of Indian Armed Forces
http://ofbindia.gov.in/download/chairman_interview_2014.pdf

Haven't heard about OBF FH77B02 39 caliber gun, which most likely seems to have been abandoned in favour of 45 caliber gun. There was already an upgrade proposal underway of FH77B from 39 caliber to 45 caliber a while back.

Meanwhile, in a small step towards indigenization of Bofors-type artillery guns, the ordnance factory has recently dispatched a couple of upgraded 155mm howitzers to the army. This is the first batch of guns lying with the army that have been upgraded by the ordnance factory.

With the upgradation, the caliber of the guns has been increased to 155x45mm from 155x39mm earlier. This leads to increase in the barrel length, giving the guns a longer range. The 155x 39mm Bofors gun is the howitzer originally purchased by the army. With the upgradation, its range has been enhanced by around 10km, said a source involved in this process.

The ordnance factory has also upgraded the electronics in a couple of 155x39 mm guns sent by the army, said a source in the OFB.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-10/nagpur/31142735_1_ordnance-factory-board-ofb-howitzers

Since the 45 caliber gun is ready for production as per schedule and we haven't heard about orders for 39 caliber gun, it probably means that 45 caliber guns would be inducted and not the 39 caliber guns and the existing FH-77B would be upgraded to 45 caliber as well.
 
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Twinblade

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Re: Army to Induct Bofors based 155 mm 'Dhanush' gun

BB + Rocket assisted shells, Excalibur GPS guided shells ..

And a DRDO design shell, Influenced by V-LAP ..
The 38 Km range should already be with base bleed rounds if not V-lap. The 38 Km range is greater than what OFB claims for its BB round from 45 caliber gun (it might be due to better gun though). Compare with the detailed range specs on Denel G6 wiki for different types of shells.
 

sayareakd

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Re: Army to Induct Bofors based 155 mm 'Dhanush' gun

The 38 Km range should already be with base bleed rounds if not V-lap. The 38 Km range is greater than what OFB claims for its BB round from 45 caliber gun (it might be due to better gun though). Compare with the detailed range specs on Denel G6 wiki for different types of shells.
one way or the other they should bring in TATA for the project since TATA had tech or tech support from Denel. That way we can get the extended range round.
 

Kunal Biswas

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Re: Army to Induct Bofors based 155 mm 'Dhanush' gun

I think you are right abt BB, But again Excalibur and V-LAP are exceptional ..

METAMORPHOSIS 155 mm GUN

Indian Ordnance Factories offer a simple solution for towed 155mm gun requirement by upgradation of existing M46 130 mm gun.
Features :

Breech block No modifications on 130mm guns. Hence no requirement for troop training. Immediate deployment after upgunning
Obturation Failure of self sealing systems during combat overcome by use of stub cartridge case obturator based on the obturating system of the original 130mm gun
Conversion Lead time Minimal, since no modification of the breech block. No change in travel lock, cradle and recoil system of the 130mm gun
Ammunition All NATO standard 155mm shells and all NATO standard charge systems
Range Diagram :

Performance Parameters :

RANGE (Max) 39 km
MUZZLE VELOCITY 897 m/s
MASS OF GUN IN FIRING POSITIO 8000 kg
MASS OF GUN IN TRAVELLING POSITION 8700 kg
RECOIL MASS

3390 kg
LENGTH OF GUN IN TRAVELLING POSITION 11900 mm
LENGTH OF GUN IN FIRING POSITION 11300 mm
HEIGHT OF GUN IN TRAVELLING POSITION 2550 mm
RATE OF FIRE 4 rds /min


Ordnance Factory Board
The 38 Km range should already be with base bleed rounds if not V-lap. The 38 Km range is greater than what OFB claims for its BB round from 45 caliber gun (it might be due to better gun though). Compare with the detailed range specs on Denel G6 wiki for different types of shells.
 

hitesh

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Do they use FCS for the desi force ,i have seen the caesar 155mm artillery video where they use FCS to feed the coordinate and the gun will calculate the alignment according to wind-conditions and distance .
 

arnabmit

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Re: Army to Induct Bofors based 155 mm 'Dhanush' gun

Sir, do we have/are we looking for Excalibur? They cost approx US$75,000 per shell!

I think you are right abt BB, But again Excalibur and V-LAP are exceptional ..
 

Kunal Biswas

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Re: Army to Induct Bofors based 155 mm 'Dhanush' gun

I think we launched an RFI for such rounds ..

Sir, do we have/are we looking for Excalibur? They cost approx US$75,000 per shell!
 

Jagdish58

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Re: DRDO 155mm Artillery Program








First look at Dhanush -- the Desi bofors gun. This 155 mm, 45 calibre prototype is being put together by the OFB at DefExpo.
Looks Awesome , hope it passes the test & gets inducted:thumb:
 

sayareakd

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from the link

Realising the urgency, Antony went to the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpore, where the Indian gun is being made, in September.

"There was pressure on us to have some kind of opening ceremony for an indigenous programme though we were yet to be prepared," says an Ordnance Development Centre officer on Antony's visit. "So we organised this ceremony to inaugurate the 155mm bay."

Antony cut the ribbon. The "155mm" bay in Jabalpore ordnance factory is the assembly line for the Dhanush. So, was the gun already made?

"No," says the official. But he explains that, at the bay, they showed the components of the gun: the trailer, the carriage, the assembly, the barrel and the breech, the muzzle brake, the cradle and the saddle, the trunnions.

"We just took apart a Bofors for the minister," the official explained, "and laid it out."

He smirked: "He (Antony) wouldn't know the difference between a 39 calibre and a 45 calibre."
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
 

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