The Indian Army (IA) is soon going to issue a tender to the Indian firms for acquiring 200 new mounted howitzers equipped with 105 mm guns 37 calibre guns under ‘Make in India’.
Noteworthy, this would be the first time that the Indian artillery would have these type of 105 mm mounted howitzers and would add to the strength of the formations deployed in forward positions.
Furthermore, along with the 200 mounted howitzers, the Defence Ministry is also soon going to take up the case of clearing procurement of 400 new towed guns under the Make in India route.
The proposal for procuring 400 towed artillery gun systems is most likely to come up for discussion in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting scheduled for today.
Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery is looking to use the expertise of Indian Industry to produce 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System, which will be lighter, versatile and cater for future technological advancements.
To be noted that the IA has already issued a tender for buying 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) along with one for finding a mounted gun system for its requirements along borders with China and Pakistan.
The Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured howitzer would mean that it would be totally Indian in all ways.
Further, the Army wants the guns to be lighter in weight and easier to deploy in high-altitude areas like the older Bofors guns.
The procurement process is part of the Army plan for Mediumisation with indigenous guns and is likely to be completed by the year 2042.
In the last decade, four contracts have been concluded for the procurement of a 155 mm howitzer.
These Gun Systems have already been inducted and more Regiments are being equipped with these guns.
These gun systems include Dhanush, Sharang, Ultra-Light Howitzer (ULH) and K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Guns. Dhanush Guns are an electronic upgrade of Bofors Guns, while the Sharang Guns have been up-gunned from 130mm to 155mm calibre.
As of now, Seven Regiments have already been equipped with ULHs while five have been equipped with self-propelled guns.
Source: https://aninews.in/
