L&T wins Self Propelled Howitzer competition, VAJRA on the way!

bengalraider

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After DHANUSH earlier and LCA yesterday Mr Parrikar gives us more reason to cheer today as well!

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ore-indian-army-deal/articleshow/49160133.cms

Make in India: L&T outguns global rivals to bag Rs 5,000-crore Indian Army deal

NEW DELHI: India is finally set to get its own mobile howitzers that will reverse the longheld Pakistani battlefield edge on artillery guns.

The guns Pakistan have were supplied by the US ostensibly for the 'war on terror'. In a deal that would also fit the 'Make in India' mandate, domestic manufacturer Larsen and ToubroBSE 1.27 % has emerged as the finalist for a $750-million (about Rs 5,000 crore) contract to supply 100 self-propelled artillery guns to the Indian Army.
The 155 mm artillery guns are specially designed for operation in the desert areas bordering Pakistan and have been a longstanding requirement of the Army, officials said. India's concerns over Pakistan acquiring an edge in conventional warfare escalated in 2009 when the US supplied it 115 of the modern M 109A5 cannons as a "reward" for its assistance in the war on the Afghanistan border.

The Army had then accelerated its plans to procure a similar system, but the process dragged on for
many years, with the defence ministry finally taking a call on the winner last week. Sources told ET that the K9 VAJRA-T howitzer, pitched by L&T in partnership with Samsung, has been shortlisted for the contract.

Once signed — the final process could take another six months — the Vajra could be the first new artillery gun to be produced in India since the 1980s when the Bofors was acquired. A parallel effort to procure M777 ultra-light howitzers from the US is under progress.

The Vajra will be produced at L&T's Pune facility and could be considered for exports in the future, along with an expected followon order for more guns for the Army.

The victory is especially sweet for L&T as it was competing in the global category, which was open to all arms vendors around the world.

The Vajra beat its Russian competitor on several technical grounds, including rate of fire, accuracy and mobility trials, officials said. L&T officials, however,
refused to comment on the development.

India's artillery modernisation plans have been stuck since the 1980s after the Bofors kickbacks scandal. Not a single new modern system has been purchased since, seriously limiting the Army's battlefield edge.

Self-propelled guns are vital for their "shoot and scoot" ability as well as a high flexibility of deployment in the battlefield.

While Pakistan managed to procure the American systems in 2009, India's plans for similar
systems have been stuck since 1999, with several failed rounds at identifying a gun.
 

pmaitra

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Great news.

Quick questions: Is L&T going to make just the gun and turret, or are they also going to make the chassis? Is it possible to use the Arjun chassis? What chassis is depicted in the video above?
 

bengalraider

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Great news.

Quick questions: Is L&T going to make just the gun and turret, or are they also going to make the chassis? Is it possible to use the Arjun chassis? What chassis is depicted in the video above?
The current version of the K9 uses a chassis built by Samsung in Korea, my guess would be that as of now L&T would build the entire unit including the chassis.
The Arjun chassis is a CVRDE/DRDO product and for L&T to build or even integrate the chassis there would have to be a tech transfer which will take time.
Speaking about the ARJUN and the VAJRA i notice both use MTU engines and hydropneumatic suspension so the EME should find it relatively easy to train staff to maintain both vehicles.
 

pmaitra

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The current version of the K9 uses a chassis built by Samsung in Korea, my guess would be that as of now L&T would build the entire unit including the chassis.
The Arjun chassis is a CVRDE/DRDO product and for L&T to build or even integrate the chassis there would have to be a tech transfer which will take time.
Speaking about the ARJUN and the VAJRA i notice both use MTU engines and hydropneumatic suspension so the EME should find it relatively easy to train staff to maintain both vehicles.
Thanks for the information. Do they use the same MTU unit?
 

pmaitra

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And you are carrying a bag with a Russkyi Naval Design Bureau's insignia. o_O

Intentional advertisement? :biggrin2:
 

pmaitra

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No, the VAJRA(god! i love that name) uses the MTU MT 881 Ka-500 8-cylinder water-cooled diesel developing 1000hp while the ARJUN uses the MTU MB 838 Ka-501 diesel developing 1400hp.
I guess it is more of a carry forward of what the artillery system does in general.

Vajra means lighting or thunderbolt. Might as well call it Darjeeling (Dorjee is a TIbetan word meaning thunderbolt or lightning.) The Russian Grad means hail, and Smerch means whirlwind. All in all, it is all about a major natural phenomenon that can be very destructive, and apt for artillery systems.
 

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This is fantastic stuff. Look forward to seeing this beast with the IA.

So now after a decade of inaction, we are seeing some big ticket items being cleared and the best news is that it will be made in India.:india::india:
 

bengalraider

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Wiki says each gun costs the Koreans 3.1$million, now considering that labor costs in L&T should be low enough to offset import expenditure and setup costs I'll take unit price for us to be 5$ million each including the costs of maintenance workshops etc. we are still looking at around 150 guns here.
Considering that the Pakistanis have around 400 SP artillery pieces(including truck mounted guns) we still have some way to go.
Mr Parrikar in Nov 2014 cleared a proposal to buy some 814 mounted guns that still has to see the light of day.
Now that L&T has the tracked SPG contract and TATA is all but certain to have it's production facilities tied up building KESTRELS for the forseeable future i'm guessing the mounted gun contact will go to the AL-NEXTER Combine with the Super Stallion mounted Ceasar, this would ensure commonality of parts as most of the army uses the Stallion already.




Though TATA could yet take this one away as well with the TATA-DENEL MGS
 

Chinmoy

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I ha heard someone from services saying that the TATA platform is not that much stable while firing. Hope this issue has been sorted out. Any word on it?
 

Illusive

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Well finally IA is getting the much needed boost to its Artillery which has been lacking due to corruption and indecisions.
 

tsunami

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So now IA and IAF also joined IN and starting to buy Indian stuff. Seems like Modi govt. have done the much needed bambu!!
 

bengalraider

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If the NAMO govt lasts for ten years, rest assured we'll have one of the most developed MICs and one of the most modern Militaries this side of the Suez.
The VAJRA, DHANUSH,MGS & KESTREL are going to change the way we conduct war here in the subcontinent for good.
 

SarkINPark

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I saw this news in the early morning hours around 5:00 Am and rest assured my day went great whew ! what a way to start the day. I believe the K-9 VAJRA is much more advanced in the electronics and after sales service front since the russian equipment though they may be cheap but their after sales service is extremely bad noting from the fact the amount of soviet/russian equipment we are using. The South Korean has always been known for their technological finesse and survivability. I believe Make In India program is gonna surely drive India to a long way!! :D
 

The enlightened

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50 crore p/u :smash:
Turks bought the technology and full license to domestically produce and export their version for $1 billion. And they have an order for 350 units. Granted inflation and other factors but we are simply license producing while Turks got the actual ToT. No reason for a 160% price escalation.
 

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