[lierro]

Indian Army field artillery consists of self propelled (tracked) and towed systems. Out of 410, 155mm/39 calibre Bofors FH-77B howitzers, only around 300 are operational. Army uses 105mm field gun and its lighter variant for the mountains. The Russian 130mm guns are the backbone of medium artillery ans Bofors 155mm Howitzers, compliment them.

Procurement of 145 155mm/39 Calibre M777 Ultra Light Howitzers, which could be air lifted by C-130J , C-17 Globemaster III and Chinook CH43 Helicopters (which have undergone the sea level trials conducted by ASTE), have been approved.

Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) is intended for modernisation and rationalisation of the 14 different calibre types with the Indian Army and fleet reorganisation of the 155mm/52 calibre for field guns which began in year 2000. It includes all 220 artillery regiments of the Indian Army to be equipped by 2025 with Wheeled, towed, tracked and mounted systems.The total gun procurement is expected to be 3000-4000 artillery guns with an estimated amount of UD $14 Billion. It includes procurement and subsequent manufacture under licence.

As part of the Field Artillery Rationalization Plan, Army has decided to standardize its artillery to 155mm/52 calibre barrel across the Towed, Mounted, Tracked and Wheeled platforms.

Towed guns are expected to equip around 90 artillery regiments. The guns are planned to have an Auxiliary Power Unit for movement at speed of 5-10m/s.

Tracked guns are scheduled to replace 130mm Catapult and 105mm Abbot Guns.

Wheeled guns will be 6X6 or 8X8 platform

Mounted guns or Motorized howitzers are expected to be used in 40 regiments

Apart from the above, the acquisition of 145 155mm/39 calibre, M777 Ultra Light Howitzers will be followed by acquisition of additional 290 pieces to equip the newly created mountainous artillery division.

Indian Artillery programs

OFB is submiting prototypes of 155mm/45 calibre Bofors-type howitzers to Indian Army in June 2013.

DRDO’s Self propelled BHIM is mounting the Denel’s T6 turret on the chassis of an Arjun Tank. Denel is currently under investigation for business practices in India.

DRDO's ARDE is expected to tie up with Bharat Forge / Larsen & Toubrofor 155mm/52 caliber gun

Current upgrade attempts on artillery guns

It may include upgrade by increase in barrel size, newer hydraulics, optronics and electronics. A ballistic computer will be added.

Upgrade of barrel and electronics of 155mm 39 Calibre FH 77 BO2 to 155mm 45 calibre Guns is being tried by OFB.

Upgrading 130 mm/39 calibre M46 Russian guns to 155mm/45 calibre. 180 of 500 guns have been upgraded with Soltam kits. Metamorphosis project, as it is called, has no repeat orders.

> 600 of 105mm field guns and >700 Light Field Guns are being replaced by 130mm M-46 Field Gun to 155mm/45 calibre.

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[Patgaepx]

1. 155 mm/52 Calibre Towed Gun : 1580 pieces are projected to be acquired at a price of approx USD 1800 mn. 400 are to be delivered and rest 1180 to be manufactured in India. Nexter Caesar and Elbit Soltam are the two guns in contention as BAE Systems withdrew citing watering down of GSQR.
2. 155 mm/52 Calibre Wheeled Self Propelled Gun : 180 pieces are to be acquired at estimated USD 1000 mn. Rheinmetall Defence and Slovakia's Konstrukta defence are competing. The process is in trouble as anonymous complaint is received by Mod that both companies are fielding unproven gun and Korstrukta Gun barrel exploded while trials with Indian Army. Army and DGQA allegedly tried to cover it up. Field trials are however over and a committee is looking into the allegations. Commercial bids may be opened in 2013 if the committee is able to iron out the problems.
3. 155 mm/52 Calibre Mounted Gun System : 814 pieces are supposed to be inducted. If imported, 614 will see Domestic production. French Ceaser, Swedish Archer, TPSED with Bosnia’s Unis gun systems and South Africa’s Denel (which is blacklisted ) , L&T, OFB with BEL and Bharat Forge are the contenders. The RFP will be issued in 2013.

4. 155 mm/52 Calibre Tracked Self Propelled Gun : 100 pieces are to be acquired with a price tag of approx USD 800 mn. Tata Power / Cenzin, RDM /
Mahindra, L&T / Samsung, BEML, Rosoboronexport and Ashok Leyland have submitted proposals in 2011 December.


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[Haremporblape]

155 mm self propelled gun howitzer ZUZANA 8x8, model XA-1 is a weapon with long firing range, high precision, high rate of fire, short time needed to engage the firing position and excellent vehicle manoeuverability. The full automatic rammer loading system for both projectiles and cartridges enables to perform MRSI (Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact) firing mode. The high level of automation permits a very short reaction time for fire. SPGH design, accuracy and high rate of fire, automatic charging and utilizing of the Firing control system, predetermined the weapon to the category present the most modern artillery systems.