Indian Army Artillery

[sayareakd]

Is it different from what was shown in defexpo12?

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Somchem propellants

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[SPFG]

Re: Rebirth of Catapult artillery system with Arjun Chassis

Not before 1999..

So it is not cannibalized then year is 2013. those must be refirbuished 155/39 mm. BTW M777 arriving in few months after tests in January/February. Sweet. MSTA, Trajan, BOFORS 155/45MM.

It's raining guns. :thumb:

 

[SPFG]

@sayareakd sir, it seems we may end up seeing 2s19m1 msta-s 155mm on arjun chassis..

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government nicely arranged the competition between msta and k9, knowing the fact army will go after msta as its turret can be placed over arjun / t-72 which will reduce logistics of chassis..

if msta would have compete against arzu of slovakian would lose by all hands..

wait a minute! These guns look like the unveiled model! Remember few months back. Mystery gun!

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Different, These are specially for long range shells..

There color is violet..

Is it different from what was shown in defexpo12?

 

[sayareakd]

Different, These are specially for long range shells..

There color is violet..

I think it was red color and according to range they used to place number of bages, more bags more range.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sir, i think this is not about regular FH-77 guns but specially for M777`s Excalibur charge..

Regular Bags are in white, BB comes in yellow or red and there are charges for special rounds comes in Violet or pink..

I think it was red color and according to range they used to place number of bages, more bags more range.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Shell & charges for 155mm produced in India..

 

[Dinesh_Kumar]

Dada, I assume FH-77 shells can be used quite comfortably on M777, both being 155mm NATO-Standard-ish, and no problems running around for new shells when M777 comes.

Am I correct?

Shell & charges for 155mm produced in India..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I don't think we can, FH-77B chamber size is different, for example if we use M109 Shell from FH-77 it will drop some where 18-19kms, But with its own HE shell range is 24kms, Chamber design is not same compare to M777..

Dada, I assume FH-77 shells can be used quite comfortably on M777, both being 155mm NATO-Standard-ish, and no problems running around for new shells when M777 comes.Am I correct?

 

[arnabmit]

Second generation Pinaka multi-rocket system successfully test fired in Pokhran

The Pinaka Mark II Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System has undergone successful firing trials at Chandhan area in Pokhran field firing ranges. The trials which started on Friday were witnessed by officials ofDRDO and Army trial teams.

"Pinaka Mark II trials were sucessfully conducted at the Pokhran field firing range. The target was successfully destroyed in Keru area which was located 30 km from the firing point. DRDO officers and Army officers have shown satisfaction on successful trails," DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said.

"The state-of-art weapon for destroying and neutralizing enemy troop-concentration areas, communication centres air terminal complexes, gun and rocket locations and for laying mines by firing rockets with several warheads from launch vehicles has been developed by DRDO. High operational mobility, flexibility and accuracy are its major characteristics, which give the weapon an edge in modern artillery warfare for the Indian armed forces, the spokesperson said.

Meant to neutralise a large geographical area with a rapid salvo of rockets with a strike range of 40 km, Pinaka could fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds from a launcher. Pinaka was also put into field testing for assessing its capability during the Kargil conflict.

"The ongoing developmental trials at Pokhran field firing range in western Rajasthan by Army and scientists from DRDO were for the advance stage of development of Pinaka II weapon system. The development and trials will continue and the rocket is expected to be pressed into service any time now," Gupta said.

Pinaka I is already in service.

Defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said, "Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire gives an edge to the Army during low-intensity warlike situation. The system's capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it deadly for the enemy."

There is no news about the system but I heard new Rockets are tested ..

Finally!

 

[Twinblade]

Defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said, "Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire gives an edge to the Army during low-intensity warlike situation. The system's capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it deadly for the enemy."

It is supposed to be GPS guided as well.

GPS Antenna


Increased application of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for navigational aids, necessitated the development of low profile antennas. Two types of low profile antennas, viz., Wraparound Microstrip Antenna for Pinaka Rocket and Quadrifilar Helix Antenna for manpack GPS have been developed by DRDO. The development of GPS antenna for Pinaka, along with its feed network, is a challenging task as it requires antenna to be conformal with the cylindrical body of the rocket. Quadrifilar Helix Antenna is one of the preferred antennas for GPS application owing to its smaller size and cardioid pattern.





Specifications


Centre frequency : 1575.4 MHz
Bandwidth : � 3 MHz
Polarisation : RHCP
Gain : Better than 0 dB
VSWR : < 2:1
Radiation pattern : Hemispherical
Axial ratio : < 6 dB
The antennas have been fabricated, tested and are undergoing field trials.

http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=antenna.jsp

 

[Twinblade]

Also features trajectory control system for enhanced accuracy and guidance. Allows for better CEP and much better accuracy.

Old snippet from 2009:-

The trajectory correction sustem for use in Pinaka, the free flight multi-barrel rocket launch system, was demonstrated for in-flight stability in the flight accuracy and consistency.

http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2009/nov15-09/Science%20for%20Strength.htm

. Accuracy enhancement of Pinaka through Trajectory Correction System (TCS) is being carried out jointly by ARDE and IMI Israel.

http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/2008/jan.pdf

The TCS (Trajectory Correction System) Enhances Free Flight Artillery Rockets accuracy to the Level of Tube Artillery by correcting the rocket's trajectory during flight.
"¢ The trajectory correction system is an add on to artillery rocket systems providing accuracy of tube artillery (less than 40m. cep).
"¢ The system controls, simultaneously, 12 rockets in flight, for 12 different targets, increasing engagement while reducing the number of rockets needed per target.
"¢ Precision at all ranges.
"¢ Upgrade to existing MLRS and other launching systems.
"¢ Optimal scattering of smart munitions

http://www.sibat.mod.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/DE4756FE-3421-4941-9CDC-B2102972F09C/0/imi2_sod.pdf

 

[WMD]

Amid procurement gloom, M-777 gun offers army hope

New Delhi August 2, 2013

The army is closing in on its first modern artillery gun purchase in almost three decades since the Bofors FH-77B field howitzer was bought in the mid-1980s. So politically paralyzing were the ripples from that controversial deal that buying artillery has been well nigh impossible since then.

Reaching the end of a lengthy evaluation now is the estimated $650 million (Rs 4,000 crore) purchase of 145 M-777 ultra light howitzers (ULHs), developed and built by BAE Systems, but to be procured through a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract. In this, India will buy the gun from the US Department of Defence (the Pentagon); the Pentagon negotiates terms with the supplier (in this case, BAE Systems), and charges a small percentage for its services.

A contentious element of this procurement --- offsets --- is now almost resolved. On Jan 22, 2010, Washington had indicated that there would be no offsets. Since then, BAE Systems has accepted an offset liability of 30 per cent of the contract value, amounting to almost $200 million. Of this, 30 per cent can be discharged by transferring technology, while at least 70 per cent must be discharged through sourcing equipment manufactured in India.

Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) sources tell Business Standard that, with the MoD changing priority from buying artillery to developing guns in India, BAE Systems has been asked for technology for manufacturing artillery ammunition, specifically bi-modular charge systems (BMCS). BAE Systems has offered to manufacture high-tech gun components in India, for its global supply chain for the "future artillery gun" and "future naval gun" programmes.

BMCS technology is urgently required by the MoD for the upcoming Ordnance Factory, Nalanda, where a range of ammunition will be built. First Denel, and then Israel Military Industries (IMI), were to supply technology, but the MoD has blacklisted both those firms for alleged corruption.

"Our discussions have enabled us to arrive at an offset package which will help support the development of the Indian industrial supply base, building sustainable world-class indigenous capabilities and strengthening our existing global supply network. As we go forward, we see the Indian supply chain as being particularly relevant across our air, land and sea programs both locally and globally," says Dean McCumiskey, who heads BAE Systems India.

Given the on-going negotiations, the Pentagon has accepted the MoD's request to extend the validity of its commercial offer. Anticipating an order, the BAE Systems assembly line in the US, where gun components manufactured mainly in the UK are integrated into the M-777, is being kept active.

A delay in finalising a contract, say US government sources, would mean added expenses for reviving a shut-down assembly line. Foreign exchange risk is another variable. But an early closure of the contract would see the first M-777 guns being delivered by early-2014.

Last month, New Delhi announced the raising of a mountain strike corps over the next seven years. The M-777 ULH is being procured for the artillery regiments of this new formation.



For BAE Systems, the M-777 offers possibilities well beyond the current order of 145 guns. It could end up equipping artillery regiments in up to seven more Indian corps that are deployed in mountainous terrain.

India's 220 artillery regiments have been making do with equipment procured in the 1970s and 1980s. The obsolescent Russian 130 millimetre medium gun equips the bulk of the medium regiments. The most modern guns --- 410 Bofors 155 millimetre FH-77B medium howitzers --- were bought more than a quarter century ago. These are 39 calibre guns, which fire lighter projectiles than the 45 calibre, or 52 calibre, guns that are standard today.

Indigenous initiatives are underway to obtain modern artillery. The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has been asked for 140 guns, built from Bofors blueprints, which would be 45 calibre. Simultaneously, a major DRDO project has been launched, in partnership with private industry, to develop and manufacture a 155 millimetre/52 calibre modern artillery system.

But the M-777 will remain relevant, since the heavier indigenous guns would be too bulky for deployment in India's rugged mountain borderlands. Built partly from titanium, a helicopter can lift the M-777 to remote gun areas, providing the army with deployment options that standard howitzers do not offer.

If India buys the M-777, it would be the world's fifth user. More than 1000 M-777s are in service with the US Army, the US Marines, and the Canadian and Australian armies.


Amid procurement gloom, M-777 gun offers army hope | Business Standard

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Mobility of M777 in Indian Armed forces >>

Weight 3,420 kg

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The Stallion Mk.4 has a payload capacity of 5 t, however it can carry up to 7.5 t on hard surface roads.

Mi-17 can carry 4,500 kg of cargo on a sling.

 

[SilentKiller]

We need M777 its sure, its the Best option in light weight and mountain warfare.
But i believe we need to buy both Tata Gun as Mounted Semi auto and Archer based guns.
Both guns are good and cheaper option than Tracker SPG's and if OFG guns comes good in trails (Might even have) we can surely increase their order from 140 to at least 1200 guns for quick replacement of 130mm and older Indian field guns.

My expectations:
400 M777
1200 Bofor based OFB 155/45 guns
400 Archer Guns 155/39/45 (not sure of it)
800 Mounted Guns (OFB/Tata/L&T/Mahindra Etc)
600 Tracked Guns (any gun but mounted on Arjun )
1200 105mm light but advance Gun
2000 M46 made to 155mm and DRDO's 155mm towed guns

No other guns than 105 or 155mm to have better logistics.

Please post Pics if you guys agree with my selection or any of above replacements!!

 

[SilentKiller]

Mobility of M777 in Indian Armed forces >>

This pics give me the feeling that M777 is very good at direct support and also act as anti-armor.
also we have got experience in making carbon fiber and composite.
so few questions..
can composite material can be used to make artillery guns?
Russian are most experienced in making titanium products, so can't we use their help in making indigenous guns?
any update on indigenous 105mm SPG (mounted on BMP2)?

 

[TrueSpirit]

Defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said, "Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire gives an edge to the Army during low-intensity warlike situation.

Low intensity warlike situation ??

IMHO, it can be used in full-fledged war also...why limit it to local skirmishes ?

 

[TrueSpirit]

This pics give me the feeling that M777 is very good at direct support and also act as anti-armor.

I believe anti-armour role wouldn't be a priority for M777 when in IA, because we already have multiple lethal options to perform anti-armour role....

 

[SilentKiller]

I believe anti-armour role wouldn't be a priority for M777 when in IA, because we already have multiple lethal options to perform anti-armour role....

but russian do follow this option.
and i have feeler our military tactics r quite similar.
an e.g. our cold start vs soviet storm the NATO front...might be wrong, hope some other members could provide their views too!!