Indian Army Artillery

[enlightened1]

Army, MoD lock horns over ban on Singapore Technologies​

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/army-mod-lock-horns-over-bansingapore-technologies/383324/​

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/army-mod-lock-horns-over-bansingapore-technologies/383324/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/army-mod-lock-horns-over-bansingapore-technologies/383324/

Ajai Shukla / New Delhi January 22, 2010, 0:10 IST

Firm invites CBI for a comprehensive audit, no official response

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) faces accusations of serious contradictions in the apparently ill-considered ban it had imposed last June on arms vendor Singapore Technologies Kinetic (STK). The ban was slapped on seven companies after the May 19, 2009 arrest of former Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chairman, Sudipta Ghosh, on charges of corruption.

The ban on STK is all but collapsing. Next month, STK’s 155-mm towed gun will take part in firing trials — cleared by the MoD - for selecting a new-generation artillery piece for the Indian Army. STK’s Lightweight Assault Rifle will also begin army trials in February. Inexplicably, though, the ban remains on STK’s 155-mm Pegasus ultralight howitzer, which the army wants urgently for India’s mountain divisions.

The Pegasus trials remain blocked despite efforts of the army chief, General Deepak Kapoor — himself an artilleryman — who requested the MoD for trials to continue alongside the Central Bureau of Investigation’s investigations, to save time (reported in Business Standard on July 18, 2009). Rejecting that request, the MoD approached Washington to allow India to buy the American BAE Systems’ M777 ultralight howitzer.

The army, however, wants the option open on both, not a single-vendor situation in which the US-based company can dictate its price. Despite the MoD ban, the army chief has publicly declared that the STK howitzer remains an option.

On January 14, 2009, General Kapoor told the press, “We have one gun (the Pegasus) waiting for trials and, at the same time, we have approached a foreign country (the US) for purchasing an ultralight howitzer directly. We will follow both routes. The moment one of them is successful, we will go ahead with that purchase.”

But, MoD sources say they are not rethinking the ban on the Pegasus. They say the CBI has solid proof that STK paid money into Ghosh’s bank account in Singapore. Asked why the CBI has failed to file charges against Ghosh, who was freed on bail last July, they have no answers.

Now, STK has also, for the first time, publicly protested the ban. Last week, STK’s CEO, Brigadier-General Patrick Choy, revealed to the press in New Delhi that he had travelled to India last year to assist the CBI in its investigations into Ghosh’s alleged corruption. Choy said he had invited the CBI team to Singapore for a full audit of STK, promising that he would fully open the company’s books to investigators. The CBI has not, so far, responded.

STK first encountered the unpredictability of the Indian defence market when it flew a Pegasus howitzer into India for trials last year, in response to an MoD request. On June 5, 2009, just as the Pegasus reached the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, a media statement from the MoD spokesperson announced that STK had been banned. To this day, the MoD has not officially intimated STK about any ban.

After remaining stranded by the roadside in Pokhran for several days, the Pegasus was moved to Gwalior, where it remains housed in an army unit.

The Indian Army’s artillery modernisation plan has remained stalled, for various reasons, for over two decades; the ultralight howitzer is only the latest procurement fiasco. The army’s 180 artillery gun regiments — each having 18 guns — have not received any new weaponry since the Bofors gun was bought in the late 1980s.

 

[dineshchaturvedi]

This is ridiculous attitude of MOD, they are not thinking about danger of not having decEnt artillery in case of war.

 

[ppgj]

ST Kinetics Plans to Build Land Systems in India

ST Kinetics, a subsidiary of the ST Engineering Singapore, has announced that it will be fielding the FH 2000 – the world’s first and longest in-service 155 mm 52 Calibre towed Howitzer, in the field trials to be held next month.

At a press conference, ST Kinetics further elaborated that it has designed and developed the 155 mm 52 Calibre towed Howitzer, so that it could meet the Indian Army’s total fire power needs. ST Kinetics officials added that the stalled trial of the 155 mm calibre 39 Pegasus Lightweight Howitzer (LWH) will also recommence soon.

ST Kinetics has established itself as an innovator in defence technologies, including those for the Pegasus, Trailblazer, Bronco, SAR 21, 40mm Air Bursting Munitions. ST Kinetics has been involved in the design and development of Howitzers for three decades. Its Howitzers include the FH 88, a 155mm Calibre 39 towed Howitzer, the FH 2000 155mm 52 Calibre Self Propelled Howitzer, the Pegasus Lightweight Self Propelled Howitzer and the Primus 155mm tracked Self Propelled Howitzer. Besides being a leader in providing 40mm grenade solutions, ST Kinetics is also actively engaged in enhancing the potential of artillery systems.

ST Kinetics aims to strategically place itself as a partner in the modernisation drive of the Indian Armed Forces. For instance, its Lightweight Howitzer Pegasus is a highly operable and portable system that meets the Indian Army’s total battlefield needs. The Pegasus Howitzer has a better edge over others in its class due to its unique self propelled capability, flexible configuration and lower crew fatigue due to powered handling. Besides, ST Kinetics is also offering innovative and customised engineering solutions, including dual use systems such as the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier suited for India due to its varied terrains.

ST Kinetics has revealed that it has bid for five contracts worth US$3 billion and is keen to set up a manufacturing base in India. The tenders comprise two artillery gun projects and a light strike vehicle for the army and two carbine rifle projects for internal security.

ST Kinetics, based in Singapore, is one of Asia’s leading land systems and speciality vehicle companies with a turnover of US$3.8 billion in 2008. It has a credible portfolio of products and services for the defence sector and commercial markets. Singapore Technologies is the world’s largest aircraft repair firm.

ST Kinetics Plans to Build Land Systems in India | India Defence Online

 

[prateikf]

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2010/India_09-79.pdf
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Jan. 22 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of 145 M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS) and associated parts, equipment, training and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $647 million.

 

[sob]

More info on the LINAPS system.

http://www.selex-sas.com/EN/Common/files/SELEX_Galileo/Products/linaps_dsh.pdf

 

[ppgj]

US okays howitzers worth $647 million for India

BY : TNN

Asserting that its sale to India will “improve interoperability with US Soldiers and Marines,” the US defense agency tasked with transfer of military hardware and promoting military-to-military ties has notified the US Congress of the Obama administration’s intention to sell 145 M777 Howitzers to India in a deal worth $ 647 million.

The mandatory notification follows a request from India for the light-weight towed Howitzer with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS), the first major artillery purchase by New Delhi after the star-crossed Bofors deal going back to the 1980s.

The $647 million deal will include warranty, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor representatives’ technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its January 22 notification.

“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and to improve the security of an important partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia,” DSCA said.

The Agency said the howitzers will assist the Indian Army to develop and enhance standardization and surprisingly asserted it will also “improve interoperability with US Soldiers and Marines who use the M777 as their primary means of indirect fire.” India will have no difficulty absorbing these weapons into its armed forces, it added.

In its standard caveat, the Agency also assured the Congress that the “proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” and “there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”

The M777 purchase, seen in some quarters as a political decision favoring US, was not without the usual controversy that has come to dog almost every major defense acquisition in India.

The gun trailed the front-runner, the Pegasus lightweight howitzer developed jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and Singapore Technology Kinetics, for several months, But Pegasus was knocked out of the race following reports of corruption and bribery that necessitated a CBI investigation.

While that inquiry is continuing, the government decided to go in for the US artillery given the Army’s urgent requirement.

The M777 howitzer was originally developed by the British Vickers group, but is now produced by BAE Systems Land Systems in the US. It has largely replaced the M198 howitzer 155mm towed howitzers in the US Marine Corps and US Army and has seen action since March 2008 in Afghanistan. US allies Canada and Australia are the only two countries the US has sold the guns to.

http://idrw.org/?p=287

 

[Zoravar]

This is ridiculous,4 million a howitizer and when you dont even know about future sanctions.

 

[samar]

US buys this howitzer for its own army at a price of under 2 million per gun....arnt we paying a bit too much...but perhaps additional costs may be for spares and maintanenance...still i think too costly....anyway buying something after so many years is better than nothing....i hope they negotiate harder on the price next time....

 

[kuku]

This is ridiculous,4 million a howitizer and when you dont even know about future sanctions.

The $647 million deal will include warranty, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor representatives’ technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its January 22 notification.

At-least read the whole article before commenting on the price, that is a very big tender that includes much more than the gun itself.

 

[vishal_lionheart]

Here is Corrupt Indian Mod are active, with their American Hands, Everyone knows that American are so munch infuencial by giving thier Arms, But Our corrupt and very bad (boys) babus of Mod favours US over singapore stk
Ultimetly Solider fought the war and not the babus
Anyone please send these babu to Siyachin, Rajasthan, or eastern boundries
I am shame on this peoples. They are going to sold thier Mother India

 

[LETHALFORCE]

same thing happenned with the P8-I they cost 120-200 million a piece while the pakistan orion p-3 cost 36 million a piece to do the same thing, someone is over paying or getting rich in the Indian government ,probably the latter.

 

[bengalraider]

LIKE I KEEP SAYING THE AMERICANS ARE COMING LIKE IT OR NOT

The article does say that the deal includes spares for the maintenance of the guns and training support as well, hoever even after including all that the pricing still looks a bit too high; what was the unit price of the ST pegasus?

 

[ppgj]

$650m US howitzer deal may give Army welcome firepower

Chidanand Rajghatta & Rajat Pandit, TNN, 29 January 2010, 03:51am IST

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: India has now moved closer to buying 145 ultra-light howitzers, which can be swiftly deployed in forward and inaccessible areas by helicopters and aircraft, from the US in a direct government-to-government deal worth $647 million.

The American Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has now notified the US Congress of the Obama administration's intention to sell 145 M777 howitzers to India, surprisingly asserting that the sale will boost `interoperability' between Indian and American soldiers and marines.

The mandatory notification follows a request from India for the light-weight towed howitzers, with laser inertial artillery pointing systems and other equipment, which could well be the first 155mm artillery gun purchase by New Delhi after the star-crossed Swedish Bofors deal going back to the 1980s.

Sources say the procurement of the air-mobile howitzers is in tune with the Indian Army's `cold start' war doctrine, which revolves around the strategy to mobilise fast and strike hard as well as strengthen `threatened sectors' in a hurry.

The all-weather howitzers, with a 25-30 km range, will also come in handy for supporting Para-Special Force battalions while they operate behind enemy lines and in `out-of-area contingencies'.

Moreover, the two new mountain divisions being raised primarily for the eastern front with China, with around 15,000 soldiers each, are also to be equipped with these ultra-light howitzers manufactured by BAE Systems.

The DSCA, on its part, said, "India intends to use the howitzers to modernise its armed forces and enhance its ability to operate in hazardous conditions.''

The proposed sale, without altering the basic military balance in the region, will `contribute' to US foreign policy and national security "by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship''.

"It will also improve the security of an important partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia,'' added DSCA.

The potential M777 purchase, seen in some quarters as a political decision to favour the US once again, has not been without the usual controversy that has come to dog almost every major defence acquisition in India.

Indian Army's long-delayed Rs 20,000 crore artillery modernisation programme is yet to kick-off, with the acquisition of different types of 155mm guns still stuck in different stages due to scandals.

The only ultra-light howitzer to make it to the trial stage in India, the Pegasus gun of Singapore Technology Kinetics (STK), has been virtually knocked out of the race.

The Pegasus trials, which were scheduled to begin at Gwalior from June 22, were put on hold after STK's name surfaced in connection with the corruption scandal against former Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chairman Sudipto Ghosh.

While the CBI investigation into the case is in progress, the government has fast-tracked the `parallel track' of acquiring the M777 from the US under its foreign military sale (FMS) programme.

The M777 howitzer was originally developed by the British Vickers group, but is now produced by BAE Land Systems in US. It has largely replaced the M198 howitzer 155mm towed howitzers in the US Marine Corps and Army, and has seen action both in Afghanistan and Iraq.

US, of course, is now increasingly cornering a major chunk of the lucrative Indian arms market, having already bagged the $2.1 billion contract for eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and the $962 million deal for six C-130J Super Hercules planes.

The stage is now also set for what will be the largest-ever Indo-US defence, with New Delhi formally approaching Washington for another FMS deal to acquire 10 C-17 Globemaster-III giant strategic airlift aircraft, each of which comes for over a whopping $220 million, as reported by TOI earlier.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...rmy-welcome-firepower/articleshow/5510388.cms

 

[nandu]

Trials of Towed Howitzer to start soon
According to Singapore Technologies sources the Bofors FH77B05 iFH 2000 face off near Kargil for the high altitude winter trails from february27.The summer trials will be held in the Rajasthan desert,probably in June

 

[black eagle]

Guns loaded for battle of reputations

SUJAN DUTTA

Singapore, Feb. 6: From the café called The Jewel Box on Mount Faber here, the strait that separates this city-state from Indonesia is a vision of maritime congestion.

The fleet of large tankers, freighters, huge containerised cargo vessels, motorised dinghies, crane-bearing barges, flatbed floaters and hovercraft is just one of the signs that this little country is an Asia-Pacific hub.

But they do not tell the story that the island is also an exporter of arms and ammunition, big and small, carbines and cannons. Indeed its ambition is so big that it will be taking on one of the biggest names in the business, Bofors (now BAe Land Systems), near the heights of Kargil this month.

There was a gun emplacement here, on this little bukit — Malay for “hill” — when Singapore, like Calcutta, was colonised by the British after being established as a trading post.

Today, a shell fired from here by one of the big guns that Singapore is right now freight-forwarding to India can whistle over the amusement centre at Sentosa, fly over the maritime traffic in the Singapore Straits and explode on one of the Indonesian islands that dot the horizon, sparking a crisis in the Asia-Pacific.

It is a better idea to send the big guns elsewhere, where armies are more used to them, like in Kargil.

The Charlie-130 aircraft that is carrying the iFH 2000 towed howitzer made by Singapore Technologies (ST), a government-held firm, will face-off with the Bae Land Systems (formerly Bofors) FH77B05, the “big brother” of the Bofors FH77B02 that were the last artillery guns the Indian army bought more than 22 years back.

The Bofors guns firing in Kargil is one of the most enduring images of the 1999 war.

But at Boon Lay Way, in the corporate headquarters of ST Kinetics, the managers are worried about what fate awaits their iFH2000 when it lands in India.

Last June, they paid a quarter-of-a-million dollars to fly their Pegasus ultra-light howitzer to Mumbai for summer trials in the Pokharan desert.

The day the Antonov with the Pegasus landed in Mumbai, the defence ministry named ST Kinetics in a “blacklist” of seven companies with which all business was frozen.

A month ago, in May, the director-general of the Ordnance Factories Board, Sudipto Ghosh, was arrested in Calcutta. Preliminary investigations by the CBI found that Ghosh had personal bank accounts in Singapore.

India’s battle of the big guns is not only a contest between field howitzers of the 155mm/52cal category. It has now also turned into a contest of reputations — between the erstwhile Bofors, whose name had become synonymous with defence scandal, and ST Kinetics, that is now a history-sheeter in the defence ministry’s perception.

“I must stress that we do not have a contract in India, in fact we are nowhere near a contract,” said Patrick Choy, ST’s chief marketing officer, when asked about the Ghosh connection that the CBI had drawn. Singapore Technologies has tied up with Punj Lloyd.

“We have met Ghosh in the past. We have also met the CBI in November and offered to open our books. We have written to the Indian defence ministry”, the retired brigadier-general told journalists during a media visit to ST’s facilities.

In December, the government lifted the ban on trials because the Indian Army’s artillery modernisation is now so delayed that commanders admit there is a quiet desperation building up. But the defence ministry has said no contract may be signed.

Like ST Kinetics, Bae Land Systems has also shipped its FH 77B05 to India from Karlskoga in Sweden.

“It is with our partners, the Mahindras,” said Guy Douglas. “And we can tell you that the 05 is being sold in its self-propelled version called the ‘Archer’ to Sweden and Norway and it is an upgraded version of the FH 77B02 that proved itself with the Indian army in Kargil”. (The B02 is a lighter 39 calibre and the BO5, like the iFH 2000 is a 52cal).

But the record of the defence ministry under A.K. Antony, whose image matters more than that of Bofors’ or STK’s, indicates that it will not sign contracts in a rush.

Despite the army’s urgency, the defence establishment under a Congress-led government will have to contort itself into impossibilities to sign a deal again with Bofors even in its new avatar.

Likewise, with Antony himself having taken the lead in scrapping business deals with blacklisted companies, STK will need to keep worrying about the quarter-million dollars it is spending yet again to enter into an artillery contest in India.

Patrick Choy of ST said his company was successful in a Latin American country through a three-point formula: “We found the right man at the right place, we had the right weapon to sell and we could assure long-term support.”

Asked why the same formula would not work in India, he reflected before he replied. “As a trend, except for India and China, the world sees a decline in military acquisitions. Expenses are more on operations,” he explained.

“Also, we are looking at India as a long-term engagement, as a base from where we can export. India is a market that we still don’t understand very well so we are taking our time and we have decided to take some risks”.

If it sounds like the money is piffling, think again. The Indian Army’s order of 400 towed 155mm/52 cal field howitzers will top Rs 70,000 crore. An additional 1,180 of the guns will have to be made in India after technology transfer.

That is not all. Singapore’s military is so small and its investment in weapons and ammunition so huge that it needs India to keep the factories running. In contrast, India’s military is so huge and its indigenous defence production so poor that New Delhi will have to keep looking at foreign vendors for imports, even from spatially challenged but powerful countries like Israel and Singapore.

The Bofors FH77B05 and the iFH 2000 face-off near Kargil for the high-altitude winter trials from February 27. The summer trials will be held in the Rajasthan desert, probably in June.

(The writer was on a media trip sponsored by Singapore Technologies)

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100207/jsp/frontpage/story_12076788.jsp

 

[bengalraider]

India’s military is so huge and its indigenous defence production so poor that New Delhi will have to keep looking at foreign vendors for imports, even from spatially challenged but powerful countries like Israel and Singapore.

In that one line lies the root of the problems of the military in india

 

[bengalraider]

While we dither and delay our neighbour arms for war

U.S. delivers 48 field artillery cannons to Pakistan Army
English.news.cn 2010-02-14 00:05:13 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States delivered 48 self-propelled field artillery cannons to the Pakistan Army on Saturday at the Malir Cantonment in the southern port city of Karachi, the U.S embassy said.

The delivery marks the completion of a total purchase of 115 field artillery cannons by Pakistan through the U.S. foreign military sales/foreign military finance program, the embassy spokesman said.

The FMS/FMF case was initiated by Pakistan in 2006 and enabled the government of Pakistan to obtain the cannons from the United States at a greatly discounted rate.

"These field artillery cannons are an important part of enhancing the capabilities of Pakistan's Army as it continues to wage its courageous fight against terrorists who seek to destroy Pakistan's people and way of life," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, U.S. Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan.

"It is our hope that these weapons are ultimately able to play an important role in ending extremist violence and bringing peace once again to this great nation," he said.

During the last three years, U.S. civilian and security assistance to Pakistan has totaled more than 4 billion dollars.

Assistance provided and delivered has included support for medical aid, school refurbishment, bridge and well reconstruction, food distribution, agricultural and education projects, 14 F-16 fighter aircraft, 10 Mi-17 helicopters, more than 450 vehicles for Pakistan's Frontier Corps, hundreds of night vision goggles, day/ night scopes, radios, and thousands of protective vests and first- aid items for Pakistan's security forces.

In addition, the U.S. funded and provided training for more than 370 Pakistani military officers in a wide range of leadership and development programs covering topics such as counterterrorism, intelligence, logistics, medical, flight safety, and military law.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, U.S. Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan deputy commander, officially handed over the M1095A5 Howitzer self-propelled cannons to Pakistan Army Brigadier Farrukh Saeed, 25th Mechanized Division Artillery Commander, during a ceremony in Karachi. The event was attended by Steve Fakan, U.S. Consul General to Karachi, and more than a dozen U.S. and Pakistani military representatives.

 

[yuba]

how long has that been the case,how many years since the bofors scandal we still not got the artiliary we needed then its a disgrace

 

[Anshu Attri]

http://www.domain-b.com/defence/land/indian_army/20100215_india_trials.html

BAE Systems to start India trials for towed howitzer in March .

New Delhi: BAE Systems Ltd is lining up for a potential double whammy in the Indian defence market with trials of its FH77 B05 L52 towed howitzer due to start by early March. This contract with the Indian Army is worth a potential 410 units. The UK-based defence and aerospace company also expects to start trials for the M777 ultra-light howitzer in India by the end of 2010.
The FH77 B05 will be manufactured and marketed in India by Defense Land Systems India, BAE's joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Mahindra & Mahindra has a diverse portfolio of automobiles and is India's largest sports-utility vehicle manufacturer by sales.

According to Mark Simpkins, vice president and general manager at BAE Systems India (Services) Pvt. Ltd, the initial order for the M777 howitzer is likely to be for 145 units.


BAE has also unveiled a mine protected vehicle at the ongoing DefExpo 2010, which it aims to sell to the Indian armed forces as well as paramilitaries. Simpkins also informed the media that the company would explore opportunities in the naval sector, particularly relating to design and construction of ships.

Providing details on its global strategy, Simpkins said: "We are working on a worldwide strategy called home market, which means through JVs, partnerships and acquisitions, we will do all of that in a country to manufacture products, develop and design and provide support for the armed forces of that country."

He added the ultimate aim of BAE is to also export defence products from its "home markets."

BAE's current 'home markets' are the UK, the US, Australia, Sweden, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.


The BAE Systems FH77 B05 towed howitzer is a significantly upgraded and more powerful big brother of the FH77 B02 in service with the Indian Army, which performed so admirably during the Kargil conflict. The B05 is bidding for the Indian Army requirement for towed 52cal 155mm howitzers.


Trials with the India Army are due to start after the DefExpo.

The new upgraded howitzer, FH77 B05 L52, has all round greater performance, including increased range, over the FH77 B02 L39. The longer barrel and larger chamber volume result in extended firing ranges of more than 40 km and enable firing of the next generation smart ammunition.

The systems onboard ballistic computer calculates firing data, automatic laying and firing control, automatic input of ammunition data and meteorological data.

The FH 77B05 L52 has its own land navigation system, eliminating the need for surveying and alignment.

Features:

1. Integrated navigation, positioning and aligning system and onboard ballistic calculation


2. Intra-howitzer radio communication

3. Intra-battery communication -5 km.

4. Handles modular charges and bag charges

5. Spares and logistics similar to FH77B

6. Direct firing capability out to 2 km

7. One of the most important attributes of the FH77B05 is the high rate of fire, i.e. its ability to fire a great number of rounds in a specified time, and MRSI (Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact)


8. The gun has an automatic laying system with on-board ballistic calculation.

9. The gun is towed over long distances by a cross country truck.

10. Over short distances, the gun can be driven independently through auxiliary power unit at speeds of up to 8 km/h.

11. Gun in/out of action time time is less than 90 seconds.

12.One of the most important attributes of the Field Howitzer 77B05 is the high rate of fire, i.e. its ability to fire a great number of rounds in a specified time, and MRSI (Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact).

13. The Howitzer Computer Unit (HCU) contains the GUI (Gun Users Interface) software and the software for ballistic calculations. It also handles communication with:


14. CCM (Control Computer Module) controls the system for loading, laying and firing

15. Barrel length (calibres) 52

16. Main weapon caliber (mm) 155.

17. Rate of fire (rds/min) 3.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

I hope we go for the BAE Howitzers, in many ways they are much better than the ones USA is offering, especially after gifting them for free to Pakistan.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/pakistan-requests-115-m109a5-selfpropelled-howitzers-01645/