30 years after Bofors, purchase of 145 artillery guns okayed

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 24

The Ministry of Defence on Saturday approved the first major weapon purchase for the upcoming Mountain Strike Corps of the Indian Army.

The Defence Aquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar okayed the purchase of 145 artillery guns meant especially for deployment in the Himalayas.

Once signed, it will be the first artillery gun purchase since the Bofors contract was inked in March 1986.
The 155 MM, M777 ultra0light howitzer (ULH) has been approved at a cost of US $750 million. The BAE systems will assemble, integrate and test the guns at a facility it has created with Mahindra. This will be the main ground-based weapon for the Mountain Strike Corps.

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The BAE will supply the first 25 guns in ready-to-use condition. It has been asked to start deliveries within six months of signing a contract. In May last year, the DAC headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had okayed the purchase of the ULH, which was originally proposed back in 2008. Made of titanium, each gun weighs 4,000 kg making its transportable by CH-47 Chinook helicopters, C-17 Globemaster and the C-130 Hercules aircraft or on trucks with ease to provide increased mobility in the mountains.

The DAC also reviewed the progress of the indigenous 155 mm artillery gun, the Dhanush, modelled on the transfer of technology from Bofors.

The DAC also approved the case of the six next generation missile-carrying vessels that will replace the 1980’s design Soviet-era warships. It will cost Rs 13,600 crore.