DRDO 155 mm artillery gun

The DRDO 155 mm artillery gun project was started by India since there are delays associated with the procurement of artillery guns due to issues of corruption and irregularities. Many of the companies that bid for the contract are either blacklisted for utilizing unfair means to gain the contract leading to single vendor issues and guns not meeting the requirement of the Indian Army. The artillery guns were not procured after the Bofors scandal. Hence it was planned to replace the older guns with a modern indigenously developed 155mm artillery gun. DRDO along with private companies including L&T, Bharat forge are developing a 155 mm artillery gun, that is to be handed over to the Indian Army for trials in 2013.

In a presentation made to defence minister A K Antony, the Army informed DRDO that it would place orders for over 140 howitzers after the artillery guns are field tested. DRDO’s Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) is the lead research agency to develop the 155mm 52 calibre indigenous howitzer for the Army.

Recently, DRDO held an interaction with various Indian private sector industries to explore the feasibility of involvement of private firms in the development of Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). Objective of the interaction was to explore and encourage participation of Indian industries in the ATAGS project and generate a base for its design, development, manufacturing and integration.Some of the major private and public sector firms which participated in the interaction were Tata Power SED, L&T, Bharat Forge, Mahindra Defence System, BHEL and BEL. Improved firepower at longer ranges, higher accuracy and enhanced survivability are some of the primary requirements for this gun system. Efforts are being made to develop new technologies for weapon platforms, automation and control systems, recoil management, materials to achieve improved weapon performance.

New guns(814nos mounted system,100 nos self-propelled,1580 nos towed, 145 nos ultralight) are required by the Army to replace its 1970s vintage guns of 105mm, 122mm and 130mm calibre amounting to Rs 22000 crs. As a knee jerk response, a Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) met under Antony in May last year to fast-track the purchase of 145 ultra light howitzers from the US in a government-to-government deal worth Rs 3,000 crore. The ultra light howitzer procurement was pending for nearly a decade prior. These howitzers, which can be airlifted for quick insertion, are required by the Army’s mountain warfare units for deployment in high altitude terrains such as in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The Army has a plan worth Rs 25,000 crore to modernise its artillery, comprising 190 units. The delay was thanks to a bribery scam involving the Ordnance Factory Board. For the towed artillery guns procurement, the Army floated tenders twice—in 2002 and in 2007.. The first purchase of an artillery gun was approved only in 2012, when India decided to buy 145 M777 ultralight howitzers from British major BAE Systems through the foreign military sales route from the US, where the British company has a manufacturing base.

Elbit Systems and Bharat Forge Limited announced on February 7, 2013 plans to establish a Joint Venture Company (JVC) to address the Indian Ministry of Defence and other potential Indian government customers’ requirements for advanced artillery and mortars systems solutions. in addition to addressing current programs and operationally proven systems the JVC will also address future looking programs, including the Advanced Indian Gun System.The JVC will offer solutions in the artillery guns and mortars segment based on Elbit Systems’ operationally proven portfolio, which currently includes systems such as the ATHOS 155/52 Towed Gun System, the ATMOS 155/52 Mounted Gun System and the upgraded 130 mm M46 Gun to a 155/45 Gun (KARAN). The JVC will also role out a range of futuristic products like the Advanced Indian Gun System The Mark-II has a better 120 mm gun, capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). DRDO was examining offers from Israel and Belarusfor the new ATGMs. (DRDO) is firing on in several directions with the work on hand involving MIRVs (multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicles) and improvements in missiles, aircraft, tanks and artillery. the Ordnance Factory Board has been charged with building a heavier 45-calibre version of the 39-calibre Bofors FH-77B gun; and DRDO is leading another programme to develop a futuristic 155-mm, 52-calibre howitzer. (While all these guns fire shells that are 155 mm in diameter, the term calibre points to the length of the gun's barrel. A higher calibre indicates a longer barrel, which provides longer range.)India's private sector defence companies are also in the fray. Having scrapped an international tender for buying a 155-mm, 52-calibre gun, the defence ministry wants the Indian industry to develop a gun through the "Buy & Make" (Indian) category. This would mean a domestic company would head the consortium set up for the project.