Indian Army Artillery

Agantrope

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Singapore gun arrives today; stage set for artillery trials

BY : AJAY SHUKLA
With artillery having killed more soldiers during the last century than any other battlefield weapon, the decade-plus delay in equipping the Indian Army with modern artillery guns is widely considered a major procurement lapse.
The stop-start-stop process of buying 1,580 towed guns for the Indian Army will effectively restart on Monday when a C-130 Hercules aircraft lands in New Delhi, carrying a 155-millimetre artillery gun for trials this summer.
This gun, the Indian Field Howitzer-2000 (IFH-2000), developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics, or STK, is competing for the Indian tender with British company BAE Systems' FH-77B-05, a derivative of the controversial and respected Bofors gun. The lower-profile IFH-2000 is the world's first 155mm 52-calibre howitzer, which the Singapore Armed Forces have used for over a decade.
A 52-calibre howitzer fires heavier shells than older, 39-calibre and 45-calibre guns, inflicting greater punishment on the target. The Indian tender for towed guns specifies that only 52-calibre guns will be evaluated.
Trials for procuring 155 mm, 52-calibre towed guns began in summer 2002, when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) began evaluating three guns from BAE Systems; Israeli firm, Soltam; and South African company, Denel. Five rounds of trials, conducted in 2002; 2003; 2004; and 2006; reached no conclusion. Denel was blacklisted for corruption in September 2005; the other two guns did not meet the army's standards.
The trials remain dogged by controversy even after a fresh tender was issued in 2008. Last year, one of the two contenders, STK, was unofficially blacklisted for corruption after the arrest of former Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chief Sudipta Ghosh. But CBI investigations have made no apparent headway in the past year; not even a charge-sheet has been filed against Sudipta Ghosh. Now, STK has been asked to field its gun for trials.
STK plans to start preparing for the impending trials by practising firing at the Pokhran ranges using Indian ammunition and a crack gun crew of seven former Indian Army artillerymen, recruited by STK's Indian partner, Punj Lloyd Ltd.
The BAE Systems gun, too, is in India, having been brought for the Defence Expo in February and for trials scheduled immediately after that. But those trials were postponed when the IFH-2000 was damaged in Singapore while being loaded into an aircraft for despatch to India.
"Punj Lloyd is STK's Indian partner for the 155 mm gun," explains Patrick Choy, STK's international marketing chief. "STK will rely on them for logistics and engineering support during the trials; and if STK is awarded the contract, we will manufacture a substantial part of the gun at Punj Lloyd's facilities near Gwalior."
STK's rival in this tender, BAE Systems, has a similar arrangement with its Indian partner, Mahindra & Mahindra. These two companies have formed an Indian joint venture, Defence Land Systems, with Rs 100 crore equity held on a 74-26 per cent basis between Mahindra & Mahindra and BAE Systems.
At stake in the forthcoming trials is an order, worth $1.8 billion (about Rs 8,000 crore), for the outright supply of 400 towed guns; and the licensed production in India of another 1,180 guns. If the MoD imposes even the minimum offset requirement of 30 per cent, that would translate into $540 million (about Rs 2,400 crore) worth of manufacture within India.
STK and BAE Systems are also vying for a $700-million (over Rs 3,100 crore) contract for 140 ultralight howitzers (ULHs) for Indian mountain divisions.
Two more artillery purchases are simultaneously in the works: A $800 million (Rs 3,500 crore) order for 100 medium guns, mounted in tracked vehicles, for self-propelled (SP) medium regiments that go into battle with India's strike corps. Another $900 million (Rs 4,000 crore) will buy 180 vehicle-mounted guns for more SP regiments.
The stakes are high for everyone involved. For BAE Systems, this is an opportunity to bury the stigma of the Bofors scandal; for STK, this is a golden opening into the lucrative Indian market; and for the Indian Army, desperately short of artillery firepower, this is a chance to fill a gaping operational void.

http://idrw.org/
 

Anshu Attri

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The IFH-2000 being loaded onto an aircraft. The gun will be landing in Delhi today, from where it will be taken to the Punj Lloyd engineering facilities in Gwalior



The IFH-2000 being fired by a gun crew from Punj Lloyd, the Indian partner of STK. Punj Lloyd will get a significant share of the manufacture if the IFH-2000 is selected by India



FH 2000 52 Calibre 155mm Field Howitzer

 
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Anshu Attri

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http://frontierindia.net/defense/mahindra-and-bae-systems-jv-declared-operational

Mahindra and BAE Systems JV declared operational




Defence Land Systems India, a Mahindra and BAE Systems joint venture company, has held its inaugural board meeting. At the meeting, the joint venture company was declared operational and Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group, was elected chairman of the Defence Land Systems India board. Mr. Guy Griffiths, Managing Director International Operating Group BAE Systems, was appointed Vice Chairman of the joint venture's board.

Other board members were confirmed as follows: Mr. V. S. Parthasarathy, Executive Vice President, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., Brigadier (Retd.) Khutub Hai, Chief Executive, Mahindra Defence Systems, Mr. David Allott, Managing Director, Global Combat Systems, BAE Systems.

The Executive Officers of Defence Land Systems India were also appointed. Brigadier (Retd.) Khutub Hai has been appointed Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Arne Berglund is deputy CEO, and Mr. Anil Chugh is the CFO.

Brigadier (Retd.) Khutub Hai, MD & CEO, Defence Land Systems India, said, "Defence Land Systems India hits the ground running with existing products, business and facilities, as well as a strong experienced team. The company has great potential and plans to become a leading player in the Indian defence industry."

Defence Land Systems India's existing business includes proven products that are now part of the joint venture business such as the up-armoured Scorpio, the Axe, the Marksman and the Rakshak. The first new product of the JV, the Mine Protected Vehicle India (MPVI), has been successfully blast tested and was launched at the DefExpo in February. MPVI will be offered for induction in the Police, paramilitary forces and the Indian Army."

As well as expanding the existing vehicle business and increasing its capabilities, Defence Land Systems India will play an important role in the BAE Systems bids for a number of artillery programmes, such as FH77 B05 for the towed 155mm 52cal howitzer requirement. It is intended that the company will become a national centre of excellence for design, development, manufacture, final assembly, integration and test of artillery systems in support of the Indian Army's Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan and upgrade programme for artillery.
 
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Logan

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Whatever the procurement policy may be ,,hope that Indian Army gets the artillery equipments soon enough
Otherwise in India things move at a catterpillar's speed,,,hope that this tym it is not the case....
 

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Artillery gun trials from month-end

New Delhi, May 11
The shortage of artillery guns in the Army is to be a thing of the past. Field trials to test the guns of two of the worlds leading gun-makers will commence at the shooting ranges in Rajasthan at the end of this month.

According to sources in the Defence Ministry, a 155-mm gun, which is the backbone of artillery, has to be purchased immediately. One of the two guns, meeting the general staff qualitative requirement (GSQR), has to be selected and there will be no waiting. The selection system would be transparent, sources said.

Since 2002, India has conducted trials for the 155-mm gun at least four times. However, each time the nation has shied away from purchasing the gun. The shadow of the AB Bofors gun deal done in late 1980's loomed large and held back the bureaucracy and politicos from taking a decision, maintains a top source.

Trials will be conducted in deserts and mountains. The summer phase could start anytime between May 25 and 30. The maximum daytime temperature will play a major role in making that decision as the gun has to be tested for withstanding heat. The Army needs around 1,580 155-mm guns and is looking at a 52 calibre bore — that is heavier and fires longer than the 39 calibre being used now.

The guns being considered for the purpose are IFH-2000, developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics. The company has Punj Lloyd as its Indian partner. Its competitor is British company BAE Systems' FH-77B-05. They have Mahindra and Mahindra as their Indian partner. The guns of both companies have reached India and are ready to fire. Notably, the BAE has bought over the Swedish gun-maker AB Bofors and now owns that technology.

Chief of Indian Army Gen VK Singh elaborated on the urgency and importance of the artillery guns this morning saying ""¦ battlefield environment of the future may entail short, swift and violent engagement "¦ warfare requires application of firepower extending into the depth of enemy territory". He was speaking at the start of two-day seminar on artillery technology organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) here.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100512/nation.htm#4
 

RAM

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India to test M777 lightweight howitzer

The Indian Army is to conduct 'confirmatory' trials of the BAE Systems M777 155 mm/39-cal lightweight howitzer in the western Rajasthan desert prior to acquiring 145 guns via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Military and defence industry sources in New Delhi told Jane's that the M777 trials with Indian-made ammunition were intended merely to 'validate' the FMS agreement under which India will acquire 145 units with Selex Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems for USD647 million.

Industry sources anticipate the deal being signed by the end of Fiscal Year 2010-11 next March.

Thereafter, howitzer deliveries are expected to begin within 18-24 months to equip two mountain divisions for deployment along India's disputed northeast frontier with China.

Logistical and technical support for the trials will be provided by a joint venture between BAE Systems and Mahindra Defence Systems focused on armoured vehicles - a partnership formed recently with an INR1 billion (USD22.22 million) equity on a 26:74 basis favouring the latter.

BAE Systems has declined to confirm or deny the M777's date of arrival in India for testing

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/land/jdw/jdw100514_1_n.shtml
 
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sob

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Artillery gun trials from month-end

According to sources in the Defence Ministry, a 155-mm gun, which is the backbone of artillery, has to be purchased immediately. One of the two guns, meeting the general staff qualitative requirement (GSQR), has to be selected and there will be no waiting. The selection system would be transparent, sources said.

Since 2002, India has conducted trials for the 155-mm gun at least four times.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100512/nation.htm#4
this is a classical example of an Oxymoron Statement, if there is anything in English Language.

The Defence Ministry claims that the purchase will be done immediately but at the same time trials have been going on since 2002. These guys are setting some sort of World Record for Paper pushing contest.
 

sob

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India to test M777 lightweight howitzer

The Indian Army is to conduct 'confirmatory' trials of the BAE Systems M777 155 mm/39-cal lightweight howitzer in the western Rajasthan desert prior to acquiring 145 guns via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Military and defence industry sources in New Delhi told Jane's that the M777 trials with Indian-made ammunition were intended merely to 'validate' the FMS agreement under which India will acquire 145 units with Selex Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems for USD647 million.

Industry sources anticipate the deal being signed by the end of Fiscal Year 2010-11 next March.

Thereafter, howitzer deliveries are expected to begin within 18-24 months to equip two mountain divisions for deployment along India's disputed northeast frontier with China.

Logistical and technical support for the trials will be provided by a joint venture between BAE Systems and Mahindra Defence Systems focused on armoured vehicles - a partnership formed recently with an INR1 billion (USD22.22 million) equity on a 26:74 basis favouring the latter.

BAE Systems has declined to confirm or deny the M777's date of arrival in India for testing

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/land/jdw/jdw100514_1_n.shtml
this is crazy. the trials are on to validate the FMS agreement, deliveries are 18-24 months but the babus need another 6 months to sign the deal.////////////////////////////
 

AJSINGH

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A $647 million end run around India's DPP?; additional background & structure; Rheinmetall's offering, ULH tests to start soon. (Feb 15/10)

India has marked over $4 billion worth of artillery projects to purchase several hundred new 155mm howitzers. They're intended to supplement India's dwindling artillery stocks, while out-ranging and out-shooting Pakistan's self-propelled M109 155mm guns. It seemed simple enough, and in the main towed artillery competition, BAE Systems Bofors had been competing against systems from Israel's Soltam and Denel of South Africa.

Unfortunately, that competition and related artillery procurements have mostly served as cautionary tales, years-long affair filled with legal drama, accusations of corruption, and more than one re-start. Meanwhile, India's stock of operational 155mm howitzers has dwindled to around 200. In 2007, a new towed howitzer RFP was issued, and the competition was expanded. Only to crash again in 2009. Is there an end in sight to any of these competitions? Or a potential winner?



Soltam Rascal
(click to view full)US-India Defense and Strategic Affairs reported on the competition in 2004, and noted that this was expected to be one of the first large defense procurement decisions made by India's new United Progressive Alliance government. The question became whether a decision could be made within that government's term(s) of office. The answer: no.

The saga is illustrative of the problems India's defense bureaucracy faced across all of its artillery competitions, as it atempts to field working products before its existing artillery systems expire.

After multiple firing trials and several years, India's towed artillery competition managed to end up without any competitors left standing. All 3 competitors (Bofors FH-77 B05, Soltam TIG 2002, Denel G5/2000) failed to meet India's accuracy specifications in 2003 trials, but all 3 improved their guns to compete again in 2004. There are reports that Soltam fell out of the race after its barrel burst during field trials, while South Africa's Denel was sidelined in 2004 and then eliminated in 2005, after the Indian government accused the manufacturer of corruption in another defense deal.

That created problems on 2 fronts. Denel's financial situation was deteriorating, and The Times of India reported that the contract may have been critical to the firm's financial survival. In hindsight, that concern was valid, but Denel managed to survive the loss. A win certainly would have made a significant difference, and might have allowed Denel to delay its major corporate restructuring and associated strategic rethinking for several years.


Bofors' FH-77B05:
Winner by default?
(click to view full)The other problem involved India's Ministry of Defence. India's defense procurement establishment has shown an extreme risk-averse behavior and Defense India observes that when a competition devolves to a single-vendor solution, the practice is often to re-tender.

The resulting dithering was relieved when allegations that Bofors had paid INR 640 million (about $16 million) in bribes to secure the order eliminated the last contender. Bofors Defence AB had been blacklisted by India before, after allegations of kickbacks in a 1987 deal during Rajiv Gandhi's regime. That scandal had derailed a planned 1,500 gun buy, reducing it to 410 FH-77B howitzers. Fortunately for India, those guns arrived in time to become an iconic feature of the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan.

Those accused in the Bofors case would eventually have their day in court, and win. In April 2007, India re-opened its howitzer competition again, and the passage of time had created a number of changes in its requirements and options. By November 2009, however, the mere allegation of bribery had frozen the competition again, by leaving just 1 eligible contender.

Meanwhile, the support contract with Bofors for India's in-service howitzers expired in 2001, and India's stock was believed to sit at just 200 operational 155/39 caliber guns as of January 2009.

The Other Howitzer Competitions


The competition for Indian artillery is actually several competitions.

The competition covered in the previous section involves about $1.8 billion for 400 towed 155/52 artillery guns, to be followed by production of up to 1,180 in India. Current Status: Winter and summer trials planned in 2010. BAE Bofors' FH77 is currently competing against ST Engineering's FH-2000.

About $700 million for the ultra-light 155/39 howitzer competition, covering about 140 pieces. These would be portable, towed guns. As noted above, the competition
has started and stopped several times.

Current status: Government may be doing an end-run to buy the M777, as an emergency replacement for dwindling artillery. Main competitor is ST Engineering's Pegasus, which ran into problems over unproven corruption allegations.

About $800 million for about 100 155mm self-propelled tracked guns. The BHIM (Denel G-6 gun on Arjun tank chassis) winner was also terminated in 2006, when Denel was barred following a corruption case. Partner Bharat Earth Movers was the big loser. Another RFP in 2007 failed, as all firms were barred.

Current status: In limbo. Meanwhile, Pakistan began its own process in 2005, and bought 115 tracked M109A5 howitzers from the USA at a very cheap price.

About $900 million for 180 self-propelled wheeled guns.

Current status: Trials postponed to April 2010. RFP responses reported to leave Slovakia's 155/45 Zuzana system), vs. Germany's Rheinmetall RWG-52 155/52 system, uses the PzH-2000 turret.

Contracts and Key Events


Feb 15/10: The Wall Street Journal reports that BAE Systems Ltd. expects to start trials in India for its FH77 B05 towed howitzer by early March. That's a month or so behind the original February 2010 expectation for winter trials. The FH77 B05 would be manufactured and marketed in India by BAE's joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

BAE also reportedly expects to start trials for the M777 ultra-light howitzer in India by the end of 2010. Speaking at DefExpo 2010 in New Delhi, BAE Systems India (Services) Pvt. Ltd. VP and General Manager Mark Simpkins reportedly said that the initial M77 order "is likely to be for 145 units, which could increase to 1,000 units in the future."

Feb 15/10: As part of its DefExpo 2010 push, Rheinmetall Defence discusses its RWG-52 and RTG-52 candidates for India's self propelled programs.

Jan 28/10: Indian sources tell DID that that the M777 request could also become an attempt to sidestep India's paralyzing procurement bureaucracy. Single-vendor competitions are problematic when following India's Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP), but can reportedly be used for government-to-government foreign military sales deals, per Section 71 of the DPP 2008:

"There may be occasions when procurements would have to be done from friendly foreign countries which may be necessitated due to geo-strategic advantages that are likely to accrue to our country. Such procurements would not classically follow the Standard Procurement Procedure and the Standard Contract Document but would be based on mutually agreed provisions by the Governments of both the countries."

While ST Engineering's Pegasus is still an ultra-light howitzer contender, the question is whether the legal steps required to make that deal would take too long – even though nothing has been proven concerning the firm's conduct in India.

Jan 26/10: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] India's formal request to buy 145 M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS), warranties, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, and U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and support.

The estimated cost is $647 million, but a DSCA announcement is not a contract. In this case, it may not even be an intended sale. DSCA requests can be issued as a way of ensuring that the way is clear for a contract, if a competition continues, and if that vendor requiring American arms export approvals turns out to be the winner.

If the 9,700 pound/ 4,400 kg, part-titanium M777 should bypass the competition altogether, or win a re-started competition against the likes of ST Kinetics' Pegasus semi-mobile lightweight howitzer, the principal contractors will be BAE of Hattiesburg, MS; Watervliet Arsenal of Watervliet, NY; Seiler Instrument Company of St Louis, MO; Triumph Actuation Systems of Bloomfield, CT; Taylor Devices of North Tonawanda, NY; Hutchinson Industries of Trenton, NJ; and Selex in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Uncharacteristically for India, the DSCA says that there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale – another sign that India's DPP may be side-stepped. Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual trips to India involving up to 8 U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, training, and in-country trials, over a period of approximately 2 years.

Jan 22/10: Singapore's ST Kinetics announces that it is keen to set up a manufacturing base in India, if it wins some of the 5 contracts it has bid for. The tenders comprise 2 artillery gun projects (ultra-light and towed howitzers), a light strike vehicle for the army, and 2 carbine rifle projects for internal security forces.

Jan 15/10: Singapore's ST Kinetics issues a release touting "the longest in-service 155 mm 52 Calibre towed Howitzer, the FH 2000," which is expected to enter field trials in February 2010. It also says that:

"The company is hopeful that the stalled [Indian] trial of the 155 mm calibre 39 Pegasus Lightweight Howitzer (LWH) will also recommence very shortly"¦. ST Kinetics plans to address India's strategic needs and is fielding tailored solutions to meet the requirements of the modernisation programmes of the armed forces. These include the iFH2000 155mm 52 Calibre Howitzer for the Towed Gun requirement and the Pegasus 155mm 39 Calibre Lightweight Howitzer for the Ultra Lightweight Howitzer program. ST Kinetics has also offered the SAR 21 Carbine with its proven reliability and performance.

Speaking at the Press Conference, Brig Gen Patrick Choy, Chief Marketing Officer, said "....The company is respected for its integrity, transparency and high standards of corporate governance. [The Pegasus 155mm / 39 howitzer].... is already in India in Gwalior and is awaiting a call to trials."


SLWH PegasusNov 23/09: India's MoD publicly confirms the blacklisting and terms for all 7 firms mentioned in the Defense News report:

"In regard to the tender cases of procurement/execution, where the tender process has already been started and where the companies mentioned in the FIR are figuring, each case should be dealt as per the tender conditions, keeping in view of the FIR in question. No tender should be awarded to the companies mentioned in the FIR unless the CBI investigation clears them totally."

Nov 12/09: Defense News reports that India's artillery competition is frozen yet again. Singapore Technologies has been disqualified, and under India's rules, competitions can't proceed with just one qualified vendor.

In June 2009, corruption charges filed against the former director-general of India's Ordnance Factory Board placed 7 firms on the "tainted" list, blacklisting them from defense contracts: Singapore Technologies, Israel's IMI, Poland's BVT, Singapore's Media Architects, and India's HYT Engg, T.S. Kishan and R.K. Machine Tools. The latest Indian MoD advisory will not allow them to participate in defense procurements, pending a full Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report.

Oct 7/09: Indian Express reports that:

"The government may have decided to let Ottavio Quattrocchi off the hook, but the Bofors ghost continues to haunt the armed forces, with several key artillery modernisation programmes put in the limbo due to wrongdoing charges levelled against three major international manufacturers."

March 12/09: The Singapore Straits Times reports that India has picked ST Kinetics' "Pegasus" semi-mobile light howitzer for its $1 billion, 145-gun ultralight howitzer competition. At 5,000 kg/ 11,000 pounds, the 155mm/39 caliber Pegasus SLWH is not quite as light as BAE Systems' M777. What it does have, is an unusual feature that allows the towed gun to be moved limited distances, at up to 12 km/h, under its own power. This is a very useful feature when trying to sidestep return fire cued by artillery tracking radars.

Unlike the 155/52 caliber competition for larger and heavier howitzers, the "ultralight" competition reportedly contains no clauses requiring manufacture in India.

Singapore was also sent an RFP for the 155/52 caliber competition, which the Straits-Times reports could involve up to 400 foreign-made and 1,180 domestically-produced howitzers. ST Kinetics's other products include the 155/52 FH2000 towed field howitzer, and the Primus 155/39 caliber 28.5-ton tracked self-propelled howitzer. Singapore Straits-Times.

Jan 14/09: An anonymous Army official tells Indian reporters that:

"The procurement process for the towed and light howitzer is proceeding as planned. Bids have been received from all the vendors and trials of the guns are planned in February or March [of 2009].... The trials for self-propelled howitzers are planned in May-June [2009]."

According to the IANS report, the initial contract involves 180 guns, but the eventual contract is to include up to 400 guns, thanks to transfer of technology to build the howitzers in India. Of these, 140 will be light howitzers that will be spread over 7 regiments. They will still be 155/52 caliber, just lighter thanks to advances in metallurgy and design. The remaining 260 guns will be towed and self-propelled variants. IANS via India Defence | Hindustan Times.


April 4/07: Re-tender is exactly what happened. Sujan Dutta of The Calcutta Telegraph reports that India has reopened its artillery competitions entirely, refloating 2 global RFPs to 12 makers of 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled guns. The Indian Army reportedly proposes to buy 400 systems at the outset: 180 tracked and 220 wheeled.

The first new tender was for wheeled guns, with an RFP floated in early March 2007. The second tender for tracked guns was floated at the end of the month. Expected competitors include BAE Land Systems USA (M109A6 Paladin possible for tracked), BAE Bofors (FH77B towed, Archer wheeled), France's Nexter (Caesar wheeled), Rheinmetall (Zuzana wheeled from Kerametal in Slovakia, possibly PzH-2000 for tracked), Korea's Samsung Techwin (K9 for tracked), and Israel's Soltam (Atmos 2000 for wheeled, Rascal for tracked).

In making its decision to re-float the RFP, the cabinet committee on security reportedly concluded that:

A single-vendor situation must be avoided;
South Africa's Denel had emerged as the single vendor for the tracked version, but they were blacklisted in 2005 on another deal;
The process delays of 5 years since the first tender have been so great that the field as a whole has advanced since then;
The standards for the selection of the guns need to be revised; and
India's defence procurement policy has been revised in the interim, and the RFP should reflect that.

G6 Base, Bleeding?Jan 16/06: A new scandal is swirling around re-opened allegations of kick-backs involving Bofors, and complicity by the current government in covering them up.

Jan 13/06: The Press Trust of India (PTI) reports that Army Chief General J J Singh has ordered a 4th round of extensive trials for the guns, in which only the Bofors and Soltam guns will be taking part. He said the two contending 155mm/52 caliber guns would be evaluated through summer and winter trials, with the winner inducted by 2007.

DID thought that was a bit optimistic...

Jan 12/06: The Times of India reports that India's UPA government has floated new global tenders for collaboration in the Nalanda ordnance factory project to manufacture 155mm Bi-Modular Charge Systems (BMCS) for India's artillery. See this link from BAE's SWS Defence for a more in-depth look at a particular BMCS solution.

South Africa's Denel had been picked, but the blacklisting stemming from the anti-material rifles' deal is having further ripple effects. The winner of this competition will be well positioned for any follow-on orders involving India's new howitzers.

July 28/05: South African competitor Denel is blacklisted from Indian defense contracts by the Ministry of Defence, as a result of the CBI's bribery investigation.

June 15/04: Madison Government Affairs, summarizing Defense News:

"The Indian Army will choose among three foreign contenders for a $2 billion purchase of about 400 155mm self-propelled howitzers after field trials in the Rajasthan desert later this month, an Indian Defence Ministry official said. The candidates are the Swedish SWS Defense AB FH77B05 L52, the Israeli Soltam TIG 2002 and the South African Denel G5/2000 gun. All three failed to meet India's accuracy specifications in last year's trials; all three improved their guns to compete again this year, said an Indian Army official from the artillery directorate"


http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/murky-competition-for-2b-india-howitzer-order-may-end-soon-0805/
 

Kunal Biswas

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Interesting!
Btw, Indian Army also need SPHs, Both in tracked and wheeled version, I was just searching and i found a better, reliable and lighter version of PzH-2000..



The Donar 155-mm self-propelled howitzer was jointly developed by Kraus-Maffei Wegmann and General Dynamics. It was revealed in 2008. This artillery system is named after Germanic pagan god of thunder. A more well-known Scandinavian name is Thor. This artillery system was designed as faster, lighter, more powerful and more efficient artillery system than the PzH 2000 SPH.

Weight -Just 31 tons
Maximum range of fire depends on projectile and charge combination. It is 30 km with standard and 40 km with rocket assisted projectile, however using the South African VLAP projectile a range of 56 km can be achieved.
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/donar.htm
 

neo29

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This is too good. A wheeled version gives easy portability. But m777 can be lifted up with a chopper since its light.

Still just buying just 145 m777's for such a big porus border on both east and western front is not enough. We need 300-400 units. And ofcourse with no restrictions that it will be not used against pakistan.

I dont think we have been offered Excalibur GPS-guided munition for m777 which increases its range and precision.
 

Kunal Biswas

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This is too good. A wheeled version gives easy portability. But m777 can be lifted up with a chopper since its light.

Still just buying just 145 m777's for such a big porus border on both east and western front is not enough. We need 300-400 units. And ofcourse with no restrictions that it will be not used against pakistan.

I dont think we have been offered Excalibur GPS-guided munition for m777 which increases its range and precision.

1. Army want ultra light guns which are M777 of 155mm/39L ( 39 caliber ) +300 units as present requirement..

2. Army also want medium guns of 155/52L ( 52 caliber ),
two contenders are in row,


Bofors Archer FH77 B05

ST-KINETIC FH-2000
A. 52-Caliber FH 77B,
B. ST-Kinetic ( Singaporean ) FH2000

Numbers to be induced are 1200-1400 pieces..



3. Mobile wheeled Arty of 52cal..
Army showed interest in Bofors Archer FH77 BW L52 155mm self-propelled howitzer

Bofors Archer FH77 BW
4. Mobile tracked Arty of 52 cal..
Bhim was a indigenous but its was short lived..
Donar 155-mm self-propelled howitzer is one of the most lightest 52cal arty i have seen and it perfectly fits the role..


Bhim 155mm/52L

Doner the pzh-2000 smaller-lighter variant
Indian already issued a RFI for precision guided munition..
 
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AJSINGH

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i just want to see these weapons in IA service , seen too much bofors , time for new weapons

is 145 M777 really enough ,i thought somewhere near 280 would be good , 145 will take care only China ,what about pakistan in Kashmir and thar desert
 
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bengalraider

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@ kunal -i'm glad to see you too share my interest in the DONAR i had commented on the DONAR as a possible tracked SPH for the IA in post no. 156 on this thread.I really like the air portability of the gun.
 

RAM

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Field gun boost for BAE Systems Barrow

ANOTHER order for Barrow's world-leading titanium field guns is expected within days, boosting the order book for BAE.The US government, which has already ordered more than 800 M777 ultra lightweight howitzers, is due to order a further batch.The order will include 35 guns for the Australian army.The gun, which uses titanium and aluminium alloys for many parts to make it lighter, was conceived and designed in Barrow.The saddle and the cradle are made in the town, which equates to around about 30 per cent of the value of the gun. The remainder of each gun is built in the US.
Defense News, a US magazine, claimed the order will come within days.The magazine said Bob Preedy, head of artillery business development at BAE's Global Combat Systems, told it about the coming orders at an arms show, but said he declined to detail the size of the deal.The magazine also revealed it had learned the expected order for 145 M777s for the Indian army could be followed by further orders.So far, 862 M777 have been ordered by the US Army, the Marine Corps and the Canadian Army, of which some 650 have been delivered.New orders would take the work load through to the end of 1012.

Defense News was told the Indian deal was making "slow but real progress".Senior Indian officials said they would like to conduct tests of he gun in India and agree a contract within 18 months.
Export sales are also being sought in other markets.A BAE spokesman confirmed to the Evening Mail that that another US order is expected soon.

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/field-gun-boost-for-bae-systems-barrow-1.723407?referrerPath=news/
 

prateikf

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at such a slow pace of artillery acquisition it would be atleast 3 years to sign the deal and 5 years before the guns would arrive. only the VVIP helicopter deals get cleared in such a huury. the double standards of the politicians are so evident
 

x0700

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now i am really disgusted at the shortage of guns, what the **** are the people responsible doing, why don't they directly buy whats required, (i know the reasons, but it's long in the tooth now) till when will our brave jawans not have the right and enough guns???

i ask the people concerned if anyone of them cares to read this-- can you really sleep well after you know that we don't have the basic requirement of guns for our boys??? do you have shame at all, do you feel Indian at all?? if yes: get the goddamn guns ASAP, if your answer is no then go to some other country after resigning from your post, let someone more competent take over.

guys, anyone knows any media person, who can keep showcasing this weakness so it gets the right highlight to get fixed?? i think that is the only way to rush the process.
please help, highlight this in media ASAP :angry_10:
 

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