Indian Army Artillery

[Kalki_2018]

Good move!! Order the 400-500 odd Dhanush 45 to replace the old Bofors and then get cracking on the 52 Cal guns.

 

[Vinod DX9]

OFB 155 mm 52 Cal MGS....magnificant snap

 

[Pandeyji]

View attachment 25797
OFB 155 mm 52 Cal MGS....magnificant snap

Although beggars can't be choosers but this is bad fotografy. We could not see what it is mounted on.....

 

[Chinmoy]

Although beggars can't be choosers but this is bad fotografy. We could not see what it is mounted on.....

Enjoy the same picture from different angle.

 

[Pandeyji]

Enjoy the same picture from different angle.

View attachment 25865

This really gives an idea of the scale of the size of modern Howitzers. Even a truck looks small compared to it.

 

[Prashant12]

GCF to hand over first lot of 6 ‘Dhanush-155’ guns to Army

Finally, Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur (GCF) obtained green signal for handing over first lot of six ‘Dhanush – 155’ guns to the Indian Army, on Saturday.


Director General (Artillery), Lieutenant General P K Shrivastava congratulated the management and team of GCF for successful trials of Dhanush-155 at Pokharan (Rajasthan) and directed for preparing the guns for handing over to the Indian Army. Earlier, DG (Artillery), Lieutenant General, P K Shrivastava, accompanied by GCF, Senior General Manager, S K Singh, representatives of other units, including Controller Quality Assurance (Weapons), Director General Quality Assurance (DGQA), Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru,
OF Ambernath etc. involved in Dhanush Project, conducted visit of Dhanush production unit and sought information about progress in development of more guns. He interacted with the officers engaged in production and overhauling of Dhanush-155.


In second phase of the inspection, Lieutenant General P K Shrivastava chaired a review meeting of Dhanush Project. He applauded the efforts of GCF administration and other supporting units for successful upgradation of Swedish Bofors gun and enhancing its firing efficiency. He directed the officers to complete overhauling of six guns and starting preparation for handing over to the Indian Army. He also directed the officers to start production of 12 new guns and sought information about preparations and materials procurement.

http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2018/7...irst-lot-of-6-‘Dhanush-155--guns-to-Army.aspx

 

[Vinod DX9]

Indian army all set to set up first regiment of M777A2

 

[Prashant12]

BEL plans to come up with artillery fuse plant in Nagpur


NAGPUR: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) announced its plans to come up with an artillery fuse manufacturing facility at Butibori industrial estate of the MIDC here. The defence PSU, which is already making fuses for artillery shells since a year, eyes a major business in this segment. So far, with 1.5 lakh units made at its plant in Pune, BEL hopes to make a similar amount on an annual basis at the proposed unit in Nagpur.
BEL officials, who announced the plans at a seminar organized by Vidarbha Defence Industries Association (VDIA), have sought the help of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the venture. Fadnavis, who was present at the meet, has assured help.

Fuse is a component in an artillery shell which triggers the bigger explosion. The fuse, which is filled with a chemical, is run on mechanical as well as electronic systems. BEL will be making electronic fuses. Initially it has started making fuses for the 105mm Indian field guns which is the basic level artillery system used by the Indian army. There are plans to eventually start making fuses for 155mm howitzers which includes guns of the Bofors make or the Dhanush, indigenously developed by the Ordnance Factory.

“As the army is shifting from the mechanical fuses to electronic ones, BEL is seeing a major opportunity in this business,” said a company source. BEL sees a major strategic advantage in having a plant in Nagpur. Solar Industries, a private sector explosive maker from the city, is one of its vendors which is supplying chemicals for filling up the fuses.

At present, Solar Industries is carrying out the filling operation for the fuses made in BEL’s Pune plant. The logistics would work out better if the fuse plant is set up in Nagpur itself. “The firing range where the components are tested is located at Itarsi which is again close to Nagpur. Finally, the components have to be supplied at the army’s central ammunition depot (CAD) which is at the close by location of Pulgaon,” said the source.

The company has given a request for 200 acres of land to the MIDC. A source in the MIDC said that the case would be processed soon. BEL plans to come up with the factory within 24 months. The plant would entail an investment of Rs 200 crore.

This will be the fourth BEL plant in the state. “Apart from fuses, the company plans to develop similar systems for guided ammunition in the future,” said the source.

At the VDIA function, another PSU — Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) — also expressed its plans to start a unit in Nagpur. “Opportunities are also being explored by Slovakian defence manufacturer UDS Defence for having business in Nagpur,” said Dushyant Deshpande of VDIA.


https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...y-fuse-plant-in-city/articleshow/65030327.cms

 

[Vinod DX9]

K-9 Vajra made for Indian Army on Indian soil rolls out

 

[Hari Sud]

Now begin concentrating on the ammunition aspect of the artillery expansion.

 

[ezsasa]

Now begin concentrating on the ammunition aspect of the artillery expansion.

Is our domestic industry lagging on this?

Arty ammo is already manufactured in India isn’t?

Guided 155 mm rounds is a different matter...

 

[Hari Sud]

Is our domestic industry lagging on this?

Arty ammo is already manufactured in India isn’t?

Guided 155 mm rounds is a different matter...

If you add 800 guns, all 155 mm in next five years, then need of ammunition will multiply several fold.

Are we prepared for that?

 

[Enquirer]

Is our domestic industry lagging on this?

Arty ammo is already manufactured in India isn’t?

Guided 155 mm rounds is a different matter...

Not all types.
The recent 'emergency' purchase for nearly $3 billion was primarily to buy imported ammunition - of all types (23mm, 40mm.....155mm).

 

[ezsasa]

If you add 800 guns, all 155 mm in next five years, then need of ammunition will multiply several fold.

Are we prepared for that?

check page 23...
http://ficci.in/spdocument/22963/AMMO-INDIA-REPORT2018.pdf

This is what indian industry is preparing for...
Yearly quantity of almost 5 lakhs for next 10 years..

 

[Vinod DX9]

Pinaka rocket artillery to be manufactured soon

 

[Adioz]

check page 23...
http://ficci.in/spdocument/22963/AMMO-INDIA-REPORT2018.pdf

This is what indian industry is preparing for...
Yearly quantity of almost 5 lakhs for next 10 years..

Very interesting document.

Current Status
One of the largest procurement initiatives in Arms and Ammunition was launched by the MoD last year when they released eight RFPs (Appendix 1) for procurement of medium and large calibre ammunition from the Indian private industry on 25th March 2017. The requirement for ammunition ranges from 23mm HEI/APIT for the ZU/ Strella air defence gun systems to 125mm FSAPDS for the T90/T72 tanks. After the initial release of the RFPs the MoD decided to release a corrigendum as early as 1st June 2017. Since then there have been nine amendments to the submission date for extension of time.

The eight RFPs released (appendix 1)

But why is the 122 mm HE ER rocket being procured at the heavy rate of 5000/year for next 10 years? Are we not phasing out the BM-21 Grads and replacing them with Pinakas? Or are those 22 regiments of Pinaka (that are planned for induction till 2027) new regiments and not to replace BM-21 regiments?

 

[ezsasa]

Very interesting document.


The eight RFPs released (appendix 1)
View attachment 26847

But why is the 122 mm HE ER rocket being procured at the heavy rate of 5000/year for next 10 years? Are we not phasing out the BM-21 Grads and replacing them with Pinakas? Or are those 22 regiments of Pinaka (that are planned for induction till 2027) new regiments and not to replace BM-21 regiments?

As noticed recently, BM-21 are here to stay. Recent pics show that their trucks have been upgraded to Ashok Leyland trucks.

 

[Chinmoy]

Very interesting document.


The eight RFPs released (appendix 1)
View attachment 26847

But why is the 122 mm HE ER rocket being procured at the heavy rate of 5000/year for next 10 years? Are we not phasing out the BM-21 Grads and replacing them with Pinakas? Or are those 22 regiments of Pinaka (that are planned for induction till 2027) new regiments and not to replace BM-21 regiments?

As @ezsasa already stated, one other point is the massive firepower of Grad in comparison to Pinaka. Pinaka is more of an DMR whereas Grad is an AKM in battlefield. With its short range, it is a good alternative of Howitzer in saturated attack mode.

 

[Enquirer]

Very interesting document.


The eight RFPs released (appendix 1)
View attachment 26847

But why is the 122 mm HE ER rocket being procured at the heavy rate of 5000/year for next 10 years? Are we not phasing out the BM-21 Grads and replacing them with Pinakas? Or are those 22 regiments of Pinaka (that are planned for induction till 2027) new regiments and not to replace BM-21 regiments?

Army must have found it cost effective to keep the Grads for short ranges (why waste heavier/expensive Pinakas for sub 30kms ranges?). Given that the tech for this is so old, it must be damn cheap to mass produce/procure them (like an AK47).

 

[Chinmoy]

View attachment 26818
K-9 Vajra made for Indian Army on Indian soil rolls out

One more snap of the same.

Roll out ceremony.