Indian Army Artillery

[Zebra]

Jobs Boost For BAE If India Buys M777 Guns

Wednesday, January 04, 2012​

By : Defence News Admin​

JOBS at a Barrow weapons factory set to be extended by 18 months after India revealed plans to buy 145 M777 guns.

JOBS at a Barrow weapons factory set to be extended by 18 months after India revealed plans to buy 145 guns. The M777 light howitzer gun is built at BAE Systems' Global Combat Systems factory in Barrow (pictured right), alongside the shipyard, with final fitting and testing completed at Hattiesburg in Mississippi. The gun has previously only been sold to three countries; the US, Canada and Australia, but now after months of speculation, Indian news agencies have reported the country's defence minister is ready to buy 145 guns. The procurement was stalled after a report on the trials was released, but the program is back on track now, according to the defence ministry in India. In a press statement, Indian defence minister AK Antony said user trials of the gun have been completed, with maintainability testing and an evaluation by the Director General of Quality Assurance still to come. He told the Indian parliament on December 12 that India was looking to buy the guns through the US government's Foreign Military Sales program. The FMS program means, in effect, the US will buy the guns from BAE, and then sell them on to India. An agreement is expected to be made between the US and India by the middle of 2012 and a formal contract between the US and BAE signed afterwards. An insider at Global Combats Systems in Barrow described the news as "excellent" and said an order of 145 guns would be expected to extend the life of the M777 programme by 18 months, safeguarding the programme and the 380 jobs at Barrow to the middle of 2015. Reports suggest Indian army officials want the howitzers quickly to boost firepower in high-altitude battlegrounds after failed attempts to purchase the M777 in the past. India has not bought any artillery guns since the 1980s.

Defence News - Jobs Boost For BAE If India Buys M777 Guns

 

[Patriot]

[h=1]Army's artillery buy in a confused mess[/h]

In the background of these challenges and the defence ministry's inaction on a decision to blacklist the Singapore-based company, the OFB mandate should not become an excuse for lack of movement on the procurement of artillery by the army. Already, the ministry has been reported to have indicated it cannot move on the procurement as the matter is sub judice. At the same time, it has not decided the issue either, as is evident from the observations of the court. This has held up the acquisition of crucial types of artillery again, after the multiple cancellation of tenders since the Bofors buy.

The Indian Army chief of staff General VK Singh at the last Army Day press conference expressed optimism that the delay in the procurement of artillery guns would soon be over. He said, "We hope to procure some artillery guns this year." He did not elaborate when asked the type or make of artillery weapons he saw hope for procuring.Much has happened in the months following. BAE Systems, one of the favorites for the towed gun tender, which was floated again this year, chose not to bid, citing 'watered-down' parameters or GSQRs (General Staff Qualitative Requirements). Another contender, Singapore Technologies Kinetics, was not invited to bid, probably in light of its ongoing struggle with allegations of involvement in the corruption accusation that have been directed at the former chairman of the Ordinance Factory Board, Sudipta Ghosh.
These two companies have also been possible contenders for supplying light artillery. While the tender route has gone cold with the Singapore Technologies Kinetics' Pegasus howitzer not even being tried before getting into the above wrangle, the proposed direct government-to-government sale of BAE Systems' M777 howitzer from the US also seems likely to face difficulties.

Singapore Technologies filed writ petitions in the Delhi High Court, earlier this year, seeking to clarify its status as blacklisted or otherwise. In the course of hearings, the court asked the Ministry of Defence to refrain from awarding the tender without 'leave and liberty of the court'. Further, the court has also said that if STK were found not blacklisted, it would be allowed to compete in the tender.Assuming the company does end up cleared of these charges, this could have an effect on all tenders in which STK has been participating, since the principle for the hold on its participation would be the same. STK had also bid to supply 43,318 Close Quarter Carbine (CQB) with day and night sights and quantity 3,33,11,500 rounds of ammunition with transfer of technology (TOT) to the Ministry of Home Affairs. And besides the tender for towed howitzers, this could also mean that the light howitzer tender could be resurrected, since it was never officially terminated.The court also received a sealed copy of the trial report of the BAE Systems M777 howitzer. This took place as questions were raised by the petitioner about news reports referring to leaks about the report as well as threatening letters being sent to the army chief.Earlier this month, Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Lok Sabha that 'The procurement on Single Vendor basis from M/s ST Kinetics, Singapore is sub-judice' and that 'The option of procuring the equipment through US Government (FMS route) is also being pursued'......................................
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[Kunal Biswas]

Army's artillery buy in a confused mess

It should be Journalists confused about Army`s artillery buy..

 

[bengalraider]

Rebirth of BHIM self-propelled howitzer


Rebirth of BHIM self-propelled howitzer | idrw.org

DRDO is all set to dust off and review BHIM self-propelled howitzer Project once again:thumb:. After 11 years been in storage, due to ban imposed on Denel company which was accused of paying bribes and it's SPH was dropped from consideration.DRDO had successfully had integrated 155-mm / L52 howitzer T6 turret, developed by Denel of South Africa with Indian made Arjun tank chassis . After corruption controversy which came to lime light in 2005, DRDO again send Request for proposal (RFP) in 2007 .but only Samsung Techwin responded to the proposal with their K-9 gun.
Project was left with single vendor proposal, hence another RPF was re-issued after considerable break to make sure that RPF attracts more proposal and it has been rumoured that SWS Bofors, Nextel, Samsung Techwin along with Soltham have responded to RPF issued by DRDO for the replacement gun, and DRDO after going through their proposal and technical evaluation is been done and will be integrating one of their gun with Arjun MBT chassis soon.
In 1999-2000 Indian army had conducted successful trails of the gun with Arjun chassis and Denel also had successfully demonstrated their own T-72 based howitzer in India for Indian army.Indian army had requirement of 400 mounted 155-mm / L52 howitzer, out of which 200 could be based on Arjun chassis and another 200 to be mounted on modified TATRA trucks. Decision on selection of the gun will take place this year.
Cancellation of the project had effected Production and procurement of materials for Arjun MBT, since Indian army had only placed orders for 128 tanks at that time and 200 orders for BHIM could have lead to continues production run at Avadi . This currently has been halted since CVRDE almost completed 128 tanks ordered by Indian Army. Indian army did placed further orders of 128 Arjun MK-2 variant, but the production will only start after summer user trials are completed by Indian army.

Like i had said earlier we had received a proposal from samsung techwin but i believ that was not rejected due to singke vendor process but the fact that the same gun is utilized by the Turks in the Firtina howitzer, something that the paks have access to. alos i find it funny that there was no mention of the Krab for afaik and remember from 2010 the KRAB was also proposed for the same.

 

[ace009]

So, why is IA reviving the dead BHIM instead of just going out and buying one of the established Self propelled artys? Will it be cheaper? or is this for "indigenous" availability?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

So, why is IA reviving the dead BHIM instead of just going out and buying one of the established Self propelled artys? Will it be cheaper? or is this for "indigenous" availability?

Are, You are looking for another fail RFI ?

BHIM is a dedicated SPGH, infact a better one than others, The present RFI is for the gun only, Everything else is at home..
Though there is a possibility they are also working on a 155mm of 45cal SPGH ..

 

[bhramos]

 

[Kunal Biswas]

She is trolling alot now days..

 

[bhramos]

[h=2]Israeli company wins orders to supply electronic army fuses to Indian Army[/h]

BEL has been asked to supply electronic fuses for 105-mm artillery for the Indian Army. The tender for the supply of 600,000 electronic fuses for 105-mm artillery is the largest of three tenders for the supply of one million electronic fuses for 105, 130, and 155-mm artillery for a total of $200 million.

Israeli company wins orders to supply electronic army fuses to Indian Army - Indian Defence

 

[JAISWAL]

Indian army flexes its artillery power at Exercise Topchi.

Indian army flexes its artillery power at Exercise Topchi.
Last updated on: January 11, 2012 11:18 IST

A Correspondent in Deolali

A peek into the Indian Army's Exercise Topchi exercise at the School of Artillery in Deolali

The Indian Army displayed its awesome artillery power at Exercise Topchi conducted at the School of Artillery, Deolali, on Tuesday in what is an annual exercise.

As it paraded its panoply of mortars and field guns, the star attraction -- among the uniformed gentry, the rookie cadets from National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, and visiting international delegations, not to mention the media -- was the Bofors 155mm howitzers, the focus of a kickback scandal targeting former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in the late 1980s and which subsequently acquitted itself remarkably in the Kargil war 10 years ago.

Officials present on the occasion pointed out that the Bofors howitzer is the last big-ticket field gun acquired by the army in the last two decades, a period when its threat perception has escalated significantly in the neigbourhood.

It could be because of the perception of lack of transparency surrounding defence deals since then, or because India has since focused more on transforming itself into a blue water power, but beyond saying that further acquisitions are in the process, the officials were not forthcoming with their views.

Among the field guns India trotted out on Tuesday were 120mm mortars, 105mm and 130mm field guns, the 155mm Soltam and Bofors guns, 122mm and Smerch multi-barrel rocket launchers, all of which hit the designated target area unfailingly, with an unmanned aerial vehicle showing the images live to the audience below. India's own Pinaka MRBL too made a fleeting appearance at Tuesday's exercise.

Disclosing that delegations from Japan and Nepal were among those present to witness Exercise Topchi, Major General M N Kashid, deputy commandant of the School of Artillery, however told newsmen there was nothing more to be read into their presence in Deolali.

Watching its ease of manouevre (it can swivel 360 degrees, unlike other field guns on display which were anchored to the ground), the hydraulically enabled operations, and a barrel that can fire below ground level as well as up to an incline of 70 degrees, it is not hard to see why the Swedish howitzer is everyone's favourite.

Was it merely because of its impressive range, with officials saying it can easily hit targets up to 35 km away? If that were the case, Israel's 155mm Soltam with a comparable range would be a candidate for such open adulation, which it clearly is not. There is something about the Swedish gun that captures popular imagination quite easily.

Range is a factor in the importance of and role played by artillery, even that is determined by the current stage of war, on how far away the enemy is.

Maj Gen Kashid said that while it may seem that long-range guns are more important, every piece of artillery in one's arsenal is important and there was no choosing between them.

No wonder exercise Topchi began with a quote from Josef Stalin: Artillery is the God of War.

Now, if only India's decision-makers were to believe in it too.

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As Army bares its artillery might, Bofors gun is the star - Rediff.com News

 

[bhramos]

[video=youtube_share;nYdDmz0_3Oc]http://youtu.be/nYdDmz0_3Oc[/video]

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I was expecting the full vid..

 

[bhramos]

I was expecting the full vid..

its being cut here, as my net is slow here....... if you want i'll give link any body download it and upload it.....

 

[bhramos]

[video=youtube_share;6dl8OaLc2dk]http://youtu.be/6dl8OaLc2dk[/video]

this is the link of the video

 

[bhramos]

sorry this linkAs Army bares its artillery might, Bofors gun is the star - Rediff.com News

 

[bhramos]

[video=youtube_share;FgNTO-4ukkk]http://youtu.be/FgNTO-4ukkk[/video]

 

[nitesh]

'Guns procurement caught in snakes, ladders game'

 

[SPIEZ]

What happen to the ToT with the Bofors gun, I thought the future howitzer will be based on it .
Also aren't 6 prototypes expected within 6 months ? I m guessing 2 months are done already!

 

[Kunal Biswas]

What happen to the ToT with the Bofors gun, I thought the future howitzer will be based on it .
Also aren't 6 prototypes expected within 6 months ? I m guessing 2 months are done already!

One Prototype is ready, I think i posted few pages back, Its a 155mm/45cal gun based on FH-77..

 

[nitesh]

seems back on track

BAE Systems appoints Dean McCumiskey as Managing Director and Chief Executive for India - Frontier India News