Dhanush the Indian Bofors

[Kunal Biswas]

If such system entered production phase, Its high time for OFB to make version of this in SPGH both wheeled and tracked ..

 

[laughingbuddha]

Is there any turrent development on currently? Perhaps for Arjun chassis?

 

[ladder]

Yes sir i know that... was just getting a descriptive view...
that is a long way for us to go... huge ....

I think you are comparing wrong howitzers.

Dhanush has a APU where as M777 doesn't have.

The towed metamorphosis howitzer is a towed version of Dhanush and it weighs 8.7 tonnes.

Ordnance Factory Board

Also, metamorphosis is of 45 cal whereas m777 is 39 cal. So, some weight reduction in barrel too.

But, then again the difference between 3500 odd kg vs 8000 odd kg has to be mastered through metallurgy. ( titanium alloy)

 

[Pulkit]

Bhai main sirf itna keh raha hun ki we have a long way to go...
I was not comparing them....

I think you are comparing wrong howitzers.

Dhanush has a APU where as M777 doesn't have.

The towed metamorphosis howitzer is a towed version of Dhanush and it weighs 8.7 tonnes.

Ordnance Factory Board

Also, metamorphosis is of 45 cal whereas m777 is 39 cal. So, some weight reduction in barrel too.

But, then again the difference between 3500 odd kg vs 8000 odd kg has to be mastered through metallurgy. ( titanium alloy)

 

[PaliwalWarrior]

Re: DRDO 155mm Artillery Program

the culprits are army themselves

when we bought bofors in 1986 we got ToT

even when we had shortage of guns

we didnt remember that we had ToT

some1 jut recalled 1 years ago

What non sense

 

[SilentKiller]

Re: DRDO 155mm Artillery Program

the culprits are army themselves

when we bought bofors in 1986 we got ToT

even when we had shortage of guns

we didnt remember that we had ToT

some1 jut recalled 1 years ago

What non sense

Reason being that Bofors name too bad and no one wanted it to be touched becoz of last scam...
Better late then never and OFB was able to come with 155 -45 version and it has been selected that better for india.
Now indian army can order up to 1000 of these guns as per requirements, with DRDO help its can be upgraded to 155 *52 cal also.

 

[sgarg]

Re: DRDO 155mm Artillery Program

the culprits are army themselves

when we bought bofors in 1986 we got ToT

even when we had shortage of guns

we didnt remember that we had ToT

some1 jut recalled 1 years ago

What non sense

I think Bofors was to be made under license by India. This was the reason for TOT.

When Bofors became a scandal, the political class just did not want to touch the Bofors with a pole-stick. So it went in limbo.

The Army discovered other fancy toys in due time and did not give any attention to Bofors. The lure of other 'videshi maal' overtook the Bofors story.

The files were dusted only when it became clear to ALL stakeholders that importing a gun without controversy is not possible. The problem is: these medium guns are a medium technology item (not high technology like fighter planes). Many countries and many companies make these guns, making the field teeming with too many contenders.

I am 100% certain local guns will work this time. The reason is that industry has caught up. Our industry does have the processes and machines to successfully make these guns.

 

[sgarg]

Re: DRDO 155mm Artillery Program

A barrel bursting here and there are small problems. These things happen with any gun. This is not a show-stopper.

The main thing is accuracy and range of the gun.

The critical thing is to place larger orders. India needs an annual production of 300-400 artillery pieces, split equally between 105mm and 155mm calibres.

 

[Twinblade]

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[Punya Pratap]

In the Army circles the Artillery Modernisation Plan is considered JINXED!! It is the case of IA left with no options then only realising the virtue in Desi Guns!!

IA dint have any options left after all its hunting around for Videshi Guns that led to black listing of Singapore's ST Kinetics and Denel. The tender kept on getting scrapped and when even the FMS route considered the safest bet dint yield results for M 111 purchase the IA has reconciled itself to Dhanush!! With no options left and realising Videshi Guns = Sour Grapes the IA is even "upbeat" about Dhanush!!

Armed Forces/DRDO relationship is like the Husband/Wife relationship where the husband constantly praises the Five Star hotel Cooking over the poor wife's cooking but forgets the Wife's cooking is not only economical but also flexible....the husband can get the food spiced up to his preference where as the Five Star chef will just tell the Husband to go to hell!!!

The sooner the Armed forces realise it the better it is for us.... having said that OFB's are in need of some major restructuring to get its act together. At the least it should ensure we do not have to import any ammo for any of the field guns / assault rifles / grenades / mortars etc.

By the way the reason for any black listing for a foreign OEM is in itself a paradox.....SOMEONE FROM THE ARMED FORCES ASKS FOR THE BRIBES THEN ONLY THEY OFFER OR THEY KNOW ARMED FORCES BRASS WILL WORK FOR BRIBES ALONE!!

So the fault largely lies with the Armed Forces !!

 

[Kunal Biswas]

His efforts paid off ..

 

[SilentKiller]

His efforts paid off ..

Disagree on this bit sir.
During his tenure nothing progressed...no progress or change in army's mind set.
Speaking and action are two different things. Let me know 1 indigenous project that got any support from army top brass during his tenure? real reason is army is not able to get any replacements for its older guns. that's why dhanush.
No support on Arjun tank, neither on INSAS etc.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

There is not much public about what he did, Due to only his efforts today we have Dhanush and MK2 in trails so does many other minor things which are numerous and which make big difference, He is doing even now at position he is appointed in ..

As for INSAS, There won`t be any 1B1 improved in service without much of his presence, One man cannot undo decade of corruption in one go ..

Disagree on this bit sir.
During his tenure nothing progressed...no progress or change in army's mind set.
Speaking and action are two different things. Let me know 1 indigenous project that got any support from army top brass during his tenure? real reason is army is not able to get any replacements for its older guns. that's why dhanush.
No support on Arjun tank, neither on INSAS etc.

 

[Hari Sud]

There is any news about order being placed for Dhanush artillery gun or we are still lost between Dhanush, Bharat Forge, Tata Denel gun designs.

One or two of these designs have to go into production.

Indian army has to get these guns sooner than later. India has to outshoot the newly acquired and refurbished American 155 mm guns which Pakistan has managed to acquire.

With BJP government more and more leaning towards local production, Indian Army has to drop its bent on outright imports. Technology of all these guns is imported, hence copying foreign guns should be alright with them.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Desi Bofors howitzer undergoes final trials in major boost to indigenization

Both the Army and OFB, in fact, are "quite excited" about Dhanush, which performs "20-25% better" than the original Bofors gun in virtually all parameters like range, accuracy, consistency, low and high angle of fire and shoot-and-scoot ability. "It outclassed the Bofors during the trials in Sikkim at sub-zero temperatures at 11,500 feet altitude," said an official.

The Army hopes to plug at least some of its operational gaps in long-range, high-volume firepower through the initial induction of 414 Dhanush guns. The OFB has already been given an order of over Rs 1,260 crore to make 114 howitzers. There was a slight setback to the project when the barrel of a Dhanush prototype burst during firing trials at Pokhran in August last year. But officials contend it was the use of "old ammunition with air bubbles" that led to the accident. "The inquiry established there was no fault with the barrel or its metallurgy," he said.

Source : Desi Bofors howitzer undergoes final trials in major boost to indigenization - The Times of India

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As per the plan, OFB will manufacture 18 howitzers in this financial year, followed by 50 in the next, and 100 per year thereafter," said the official. Based on the current production plan, it will take around 6 years (2020) to produce all 414 Dhanush guns.

 

[Punya Pratap]

Disagree on this bit sir.
During his tenure nothing progressed...no progress or change in army's mind set.
Speaking and action are two different things. Let me know 1 indigenous project that got any support from army top brass during his tenure? real reason is army is not able to get any replacements for its older guns. that's why dhanush.
No support on Arjun tank, neither on INSAS etc.

Gen VK Singh was unfortunate to have his tenure coincide with one of the most inept Defense Minister India has seen. The armed forces have a word for it "Äntony Effect" - ask any senior brass

 

[sgarg]

Desi Bofors howitzer undergoes final trials in major boost to indigenization





Source : Desi Bofors howitzer undergoes final trials in major boost to indigenization - The Times of India

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

As per the plan, OFB will manufacture 18 howitzers in this financial year, followed by 50 in the next, and 100 per year thereafter," said the official. Based on the current production plan, it will take around 6 years (2020) to produce all 414 Dhanush guns.

The 18 for current year and 50 next year still seems to be too low. It is not clear to what extent OFB is using private sector but I am sure companies like Bharat Forge have the capacity to build one barrel per day.

Rest of the forged or stamped parts can be churned out in even larger quantities.

Either army is still dragging its feet or there is something else suspicious about it.

 

[sgarg]

I am not happy. India needs minimum 1500 guns for China border if India thinks it needs to deter China. Tanks are largely ineffective on this border. Chinese have much higher firepower compared to Indians in every respect. Army dragging its feet equals to not wanting to fight with China. It is one thing to talk about two-front war, it is another to actually prepare for one.

 

[SilentKiller]

There is not much public about what he did, Due to only his efforts today we have Dhanush and MK2 in trails so does many other minor things which are numerous and which make big difference, He is doing even now at position he is appointed in ..

As for INSAS, There won`t be any 1B1 improved in service without much of his presence, One man cannot undo decade of corruption in one go ..

Agree on few things Sir...
But i don't think we can give so much credit to him. For some army has been forced by government or for others army has no option left.
Too many road blocks on indigenous hardware has been put by army in past is difficult to imagine that it has changed, it will still depend on how much army top brass supports Mk2.
118 is still too low, need numbers to justify work done on them and lower its cost else it will become a white elephant same as case with french tanks. order more and support MK2 to further updates.

Frankly as an outsider to all this only navy seems to be supporting indigenous effort in india rest are too behind and army being the worst.
Have seen how indian products have been treated, LCA by airforce and Arjun by army are top most examples.
LCA whether on par to rafale or not, it was better than 21's and we should have already inducted at least a 20-40 of them, even hate to say pakistan airforce did better job in accepting J-17's they r no where near LCA but they had support.
Army is too shy and showing rigidity in accepting arjun with every now and there getting some lame response, pakistan here too did better job in supporting its self built tanks.
Hope they understand reality and need of time.

For me its too early to cheer it up, its long way to go.
it was good that govt removed RPF for LUH and supported HAL LUH, same should happen with arjun, no more T90 orders why waste money on which we already have issues or is incomplete package and not supporting indian self reliance, army needs to be forced to accepted some of indian made equipment now.
Airforce has accepted Akash missiles but don't know why is army still showing reluctance.

 

[SilentKiller]

I am not happy. India needs minimum 1500 guns for China border if India thinks it needs to deter China. Tanks are largely ineffective on this border. Chinese have much higher firepower compared to Indians in every respect. Army dragging its feet equals to not wanting to fight with China. It is one thing to talk about two-front war, it is another to actually prepare for one.

Issue is with decades of in decision. its will not change over time.