@kunal sir,
it was long decided all of india's M-46 guns of 130mm caliber will be upgraded to 155 mm. Soltam was the partner in that. i remember they did upgrades for the 180 guns but
due to one or two barrel bursting and less than advertised range - the deal got stuck.
defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, at a Parliamentary session in December 2004, stated that the modernisation contract for 180 guns signed in March 2000 was worth $47,524,137. A MoD press release, dated 29 November 2001, stated that upgrade began at the Gun Carriage Factory in Jabalpur with 180 kits supplied from Israel. Jane's Defence Weekly reported in March 2005, that 36 guns had so far been upgraded to equip two artillery regiments.
The project was suspended by the MoD in mid-2002, because of quality problems. Indian Artillery gunners stated that the upgraded guns could not hit their claimed targets of 40 km, as expected and was considerably less than what had been stated by Soltam. This was indeed surprising, as during demonstration trials by Soltam at Pokhran, Rajasthan in 1997-98, one M-46 field howitzer upgraded to the 155mm/45-calibre standard was successfully test-fired using extended range base-bleed ammunition out to a range of 39 km.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Equipment/Artillery/353-155mm-M-46-Howitzer.html
parallely OFB which was creating it's own 155mm upgrade package which was supposed to upgrade the rest of the M-46 guns. i quote OFB link here -
155mm 45 calibre upgunning kit MK-III
n Objective:
§ To upgrade the 130mm M-46 gun at minimum cost with NATO standard 155mm/45 calibre gun.
n Status:
– Development of 130/155mm45 calibre barrel with vaned slot muzzle brake completed.
– First phase of technical cum user trial revealed satisfactory performance of ordnance. Certain modifications recommended by trial team for castor wheels and jacks.
– Modifications completed and user trial requested for resumption with ahq
– Installation of inertial navigation based fire control system planned.
Development of vaned slot muzzle brake
n Objective: to develop a futuristic design of muzzle brake suitable for towed and self propelled howitzer
n Salient features:
– Continuous guidance to the projectile leading to increase in muzzle velocity
– High efficiency ,low blast and flash signatures.
– Rapid discharge of burnt propellant gases to reduce the exposure of crew to fumes during opening of breech after firing of a round.
– Low aerodnamic jump improves the accuracy of the gun
n Status:
– Vaned slot muzzle brake integrated to 155mm/45 calibre bofors upgradation barrel is under trial.
as one can see user trial was satisfactory and all modifications sought were completed and were under "trials".
also -
Upgradation of 155mm/39 calibre bofors fh77b to 155mm/45 calibre
n Objective:
To upgrade BOFORS FH77B by mounting 155mm45 calibre barrel with vaned slot muzzle brake at minimum cost and with futuristic technology.
n Salient features:
– Increased range to 40km from 29km.
– No upgradation of recoil system and gun super structure required.
– Upgradation of fire control system with inertial navigation system based fire control system for autonomous gun capability.
n Status:
– 155mm/45 calibre BOFORS upgradation equipment is under trial.
this one
(as below) is the soltam gun upgrade referred to as "METAMORPHOSIS" gun.
130/155MM 45 Calibre Metamorphosis
This is a lowest cost upgrade of 130mm M46 field gun to 155mm 45 calibre.
CONFIGURATION :
"¢ 155mm 45 cal barrel conforming to NATO standards with vaned slot muzzle brake
"¢ Stub cartridge case obturation.
"¢ Pneumatic ramming
"¢ Upgradation of jacks to castor wheels.
STATUS :
After successful proof in 2002, the equipment was a successful debuetante at idex Abu Dhabi in 2003. The equipment was admitted for technical cum user trial in which the performance of ordnance with vaned slot muzzle brake was found to be satisfactory and the equipment after suggested improvements is ready for further trials.
130/155MM SOLTAM
The prototype barrel has been machined up to finish turning stage. Further production will be planned after receipt of Mechanical Autofrettage Plant and 70 sets of Major Forgings from the OEM.
155MM/ 45 Cal Upgradation
OFC has designed and developed 155mm 45 Calibre ordnance and this is presently under DGQA proof trials. The proof trials are scheduled to be held at PXE Balasore from 20th June 2006 to 30th June 2006.
http://www.ofbindia.gov.in/units/index.php?unit=ofc&page=my_3&lang=en
also another link with the "METAMORPHOSIS" gun here -
http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes...bre-Metamorphosis-artillery-system-India.html
so, if these guns have been satisfactory and were under trials long back (unfortunately the OFB link does not give the dates for OFB guns), then why these trials from the foreign vendors which never ends, with MOD playing spoil sport - with their "blacklist" agenda??
http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2009/11/no-thanks-youre-blacklisted.html
what is the status of the OFB gun which was supposed to upgrade the M-46 Guns??
also what type of "guided" shells are part of the IA artillery??
it is well known how the russian "Krasnopol" guided shells turned out to be "duds" -
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/most-of-krasnopol-ammo-for-bofors-guns-turn-out-duds/17346/0
IA wasted a whole lot of money on these duds. are they still in use?? have the issues with these shells have been sorted out?? it is really ironic how russia gets away easily and repeatedly, and are rewarded with more!!!
the fact that Congress ruled centre
will not allow Bofors or Bofors related gun due to "political sensitivities" is very clear from the fact that the trials consistently proved Bofors gun to be superior as proven by this -
An excerpt from a 2007 Indian Army trial report on the 155-mm towed gun trials. It was after this that the infamous re-tendering happened, after four trial rounds.
http://livefist.blogspot.com/2009/07/glimpse-into-indias-artillery.html
why army never showed interest in the DRDO developed gun inspite of them coming with a proposal to the army is baffling to say the least!!!
The DRDO spokesperson in New Delhi, Ravi Gupta, confirmed to the Business Standard, "The DRDO is very keen to develop 155-mm guns for the army. We had formed a team to work on this more than a decade ago, but the army did not give us a firm requirement then. Now, the army has expressed interest in the 155-mm gun project and preliminary work has already begun."
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/155-mm-gun-contract-drdo-entersfray/402834/
late solace is that at least they are doing now a full 20 years later!!!
IA and MOD have a lot to answer this sorry situation!!