A beautiful scene that belies the lack of modern High calibre #artilleryguns in the #IndianArmy & serves as a reminder that 21 years after the Field #artillery Rationalization plan was drafed to remedy deficiencies exposed during #Kargil they remain diminished.
Thread below
Thread below
The FARP projection envisaged the acquisition of around 3000 #artillery pieces which were subdivided into 814 truck-mounted guns, 1,580 towed guns, 100 tracked self-propelled guns, 180 wheeled self-propelled guns and 145 ultra-light howitzers.
Some 2819 guns in all.
Some 2819 guns in all.
Out of this projected requirement only the requirement for ULWH ( Ultra light weight howitzers has been addressed with the ongoing acquisition of 145 @BAESystemsInc @MahindraRise M777 155/39 guns.
There is some chatter on an additional 290 gun requirement that remains open.
There is some chatter on an additional 290 gun requirement that remains open.
Out of a projected 1580 155/52 howitzers NONE have been acquired yet.
A separate plan to upgun upto 300 old 130mm Soviet made M-46 guns to SHARANG 155/45 guns & manufacture 114 155/45 DHANUSH #artilleryguns at @OFB_India facilities are making good progress.
A separate plan to upgun upto 300 old 130mm Soviet made M-46 guns to SHARANG 155/45 guns & manufacture 114 155/45 DHANUSH #artilleryguns at @OFB_India facilities are making good progress.
The requirement for 180 wheeled self propelled howitzers was amortized into that of the tracked guns after both global manufacturers of wheeled guns Rheinmetall & @DenelSOC merged into one firm & were blacklisted following the Bhim Saga .The Requirement now is of 280 tracked guns
After the rather painful cancellation of the @DRDO_India BHIM SPH program over unsubstantiated charges on Denel. Trials were held between the Russian MSTA-S & Korean K-9 with the K9 winning.
100 guns are ordered & under delivery out of 280 required in the 1999 FARP.
100 guns are ordered & under delivery out of 280 required in the 1999 FARP.
The most important requirement that remains pending is that of 814 truck mounted 155/52 #artilleryguns with @TataCompanies , @larsentoubro , @BharatForgeLtd all in competition with @OFB_India .
@manoharparrikar once talked of closing this soon, seems an era away now.
@manoharparrikar once talked of closing this soon, seems an era away now.
Apart from these an upgrade plan for the existing arsenal of 105mm guns is in progress .
Once completed much of the arsenal of 1700 odd 105mm guns will have an extended range to 27km from 17km now.
Once completed much of the arsenal of 1700 odd 105mm guns will have an extended range to 27km from 17km now.
The #Israeli ATHOS 2052 155/52 #artillery gun has been downselected from foreign competition for the order of 1580 towed 155/52 guns .
These guns will be manufactured in #India by @BharatForgeLtd .
Seen below in trials at Pokharan #Rajasthan .
These guns will be manufactured in #India by @BharatForgeLtd .
Seen below in trials at Pokharan #Rajasthan .
The above has come under scrutiny now though with two indigenous competitors now available with both the BHARAT-52 & ATAGS Clearing #IndianArmy user firing trials .
These are also from the @amitbkalyani helmed #Bharat Forge stables ( ATAGS also from @TataPowerSED).
These are also from the @amitbkalyani helmed #Bharat Forge stables ( ATAGS also from @TataPowerSED).
The procurement of large numbers of either have so far stalled with the @DefenceMinIndia rating the BHARAT-52 as " Good enough for Indian Army" without ordering any & the Army specifying weight reduction in mobility trials for the ATAGS .
At least five lower weight examples have been manufactured & handed over for #IndianArmy trials in February 2020 that should be in trials now that the #COVID19 lockdown has practically ended.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
@threadreaderapp unroll please
