The Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan is a procurement-cum-development plan of the Indian Army. The programme was drafted in 1999 in the aftermath of the Kargil war, emboldened by the success of the 155mm Bofors guns in its inventory. The programme was slated to replace the weapons of 169 artillery regiments with modern weapon systems, predominantly of 155mm calibre. [1] The procurement involves direct import, manufacture under license, as well as inhouse development of artillery weapon systems. [2]
Under the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, the army plans to procure approximately 3000–3600 weapons, at a cost of over with an outlay of over Rs 20,000 crore (approximately US$3 billion). This includes the initial purchase of 1580 towed, 814 mounted, 180 self-propelled wheeled, 100 self-propelled tracked, and 145 ultra-light 155 mm/52 calibre artillery guns. [3] The FARP was further amplified by the Artillery Profile 2027 (acquisition plan), which was drafted in year 2008. [3]
Indian Army has ordered 114 Dhanush howitzers of which 18 units has been delivered. [4] First regiment (93 Field Regiment) is operational near Line of Actual Control (LAC). [5] All units expected to be delivered by 2026. [6]
A recent manufacturing disruption occurred due to the untimely procurement of a spare part needed for a sub-assembly. The production of Dhanush has restarted following a pause due to a shortage of spare parts. In FY2023–2024, Advance Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) intends to supply the Indian Army with 26 brand-new howitzers. With this, the Army will have 50 Dhanush weapons overall. The Army received the first set of 6 guns in April 2019. Accidents such as barrel bursts and muzzle brake strikes marred the early years of manufacturing. At that point, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was in charge of the Gun Carriage Factory in Jabalpur. New terms and conditions were signed with the new entity AWEIL following the corporatization. According to the revised terms, the delivery is proceeding as planned. [7]
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given approval to the plans to procure 307 DRDO ATAGS in March 2023. [8] On 2 May 2024, the gun has completed and passed all the user trials for induction into Indian Army.
The Army also has plans to procure 1,200 155 mm 52-calibre Towed Gun Systems (TGS) in phased manner which will become the mainstay of the Indian Army in the future. [9] The initial order clearance (Acceptance of Necessity) for 400 units was granted on 30 November 2023. [10] [11] [12]
The gun system should have the following specifications: [8]
Potential Competitors
The Indian Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) through which Indian Army will procure 200 units of 105 mm L/37 mounted howitzers. [11] [12]
Potential Competitors
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure 814 units of 155 mm L/52 calibre Mounted Guns. The guns should have a maximum range of more than 38 km, have a maximum weight of 30 tonnes and should be able to fire all existing 155 mm rounds in Indian Army's inventory. [13]
Potential Competitors
TBD
In September 2015, the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) selected Hanwha Techwin and Larsen & Toubro as preferred bidder to supply 100 K9 Vajra-T to the Indian Army after K9 outperformed 2S19 Msta-S and passed two-year trial. [14] On 6 July 2016, India agreed in purchasing 100 K9 Vajra-T for $750 million. [15] On 29 March 2017, The Government of India approved budget of $646 million for purchasing 100 K9 Vajra-T. [16] A formal contract of $310 million was signed between Hanwha Techwin and Larsen & Toubro in New Delhi on 21 April. Hanwha Techwin will supply first 10 K9 Vajra-T, and 90 will be license produced in India by Larsen & Toubro. [17]
K9 Vajra-T consist 14 major Indian manufactured systems, 50% of component by value, which include Nub ammunition capable FCS and its storage, communication system, and environment control and NBC protection system. Additional systems were installed such as GPS (Gunner's Primary Sight) for direct firing capability, and South African APU, which was proven for desert operation—Korean APU was under development phase during Indian trial. The vehicle's overall design was modified to suitable for operation in desert and high temperature condition, including the change of firing rate to 3 rounds in 30 seconds. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
The Indian Army completed high altitude trials at Ladakh under cold climatic conditions. [23] After satisfactory performance at high altitude terrain, the MoD is getting ready to place repeat order of 200 K9 Vajra-T worth ₹9,600 crore. [24] The new batch will equip enhanced engine suited for high altitude operation, and is expected to complete delivery by 2028. [25] The proposal for first 100 units was cleared on 27 September 2022. [26] In February 2023, Hanwha received an order for 100 vehicles. [27] Additional order for 100 units are planned. In May 2024, a report suggested, another 100 units of the gun would be cleared after the formation of a new government after 2024 Indian general election. [28]
After three years of searching and negotiations, India ordered M777 155 mm L/39 ultra-light howitzer from USA in September 2013. [29]
The Indian Army first announced plans to acquire 145 guns for ₹30 billion (US$376 million), [30] but purchase plans were overtaken when the procurement process was restarted in July 2010. India's Ministry of Defence cleared the proposal for buying 145 guns for US$660 million on 11 May 2012 through the US Government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. [31] This was put up before the Ministry of Finance for clearance and will subsequently be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Security for final approval. [32] [33] On 2 August 2013, India requested the sale of 145 M777 howitzers for US$885 million. [34] On 24 February 2014 the purchase was again postponed. [35] On 11 May 2014 the purchase was cleared by India's Ministry of Defence. [36] On 11 July 2014, the Government of India announced that it would not order the guns because of cost issues. [37] On 22 November 2014, the selection process was restarted under the "Make In India" program. [38] On 13 May 2015, the Ministry of Defence approved ₹29 billion (₹2,900 crore) to buy 145 M777 ultralight howitzers from the US. [39] On 15 December 2015, the Indian Ministry of Defence said it was keen on placing a follow-up order of 500 more M777 guns. [40]
On 26 June 2016, it was announced that 145 guns will be purchased by India for US$750 million. [41] The Indian government completed the deal on 30 November 2016. [42] Under the agreement, BAE Systems was to supply 25 ready-built howitzers, while 120 guns were to be manufactured in India by Mahindra Defence Systems Limited. [43] A total of 7 artillery regiments are planned, each of 18 guns. The first regiment was planned to be raised by end-2020 with 15 guns supplied by BAE systems and three guns supplied by Mahindra Defense Systems Limited. [44]
The Indian Army received its first shipment comprising two howitzers on 18 May 2017 in New Delhi from United States in ready to use condition. [45] [46] It was reported that on 2 September 2017, the barrel of one of the howitzers was damaged while firing during calibration trials. [47] [48] The procurement of 145 guns was completed by 2023. [49]
The Indian army used the M777 howitzer in the Himvijay exercise (2021) in Arunachal Pradesh which involved the newly raised integrated battle groups. [50]
In July 2020, in the wake of escalating tension with China in light of hostile Chinese posturing, particularly on the border between the Union Territory of Ladakh and Chinese-occupied Tibet, further purchases of Excalibur shells were announced by the Indian Ministry of Defence. [51] Discussions began in 2023 between India and the United States to develop an extended range of the M777 howitzer called as the M777 (ER), with India planning to upgrade all its M777 guns to this standard. [49]
The M109 is an American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s to replace the M44. It has been upgraded a number of times, most recently to the M109A7. The M109 family is the most common Western indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions.
The AS-90, known officially as Gun Equipment 155 mm L131, is an armoured self-propelled artillery used by the British Army.
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The Indian Army was established on 1 April 1895 alongside the long established presidency armies of the East India Company, which too were absorbed into it in 1903. Some princely states maintained their own armies which formed the Imperial Service Troops which, along with the Indian Army formed the land component of the Armed Forces of the Crown of India, responsible for the defence of the Indian Empire. The Imperial Service Troops were merged into the Indian Army after independence. The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and have participated in several battles and campaigns around the world, earning many battle and theatre honours before and after Independence.
The Panzerhaubitze 2000, meaning "armoured howitzer 2000" and abbreviated PzH 2000, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall in the 1980s and 1990s for the German Army. The PzH 2000 has automatic support for up to five rounds of multiple round simultaneous impact. Replenishment of shells is automated. Two operators can load 60 shells and propelling charges in less than 12 minutes. The PzH 2000 equips the armies of Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Netherlands, Greece, Lithuania, Hungary, Qatar and Croatia, mostly replacing older systems such as the M109 howitzer. In November 2019, a PzH 2000 L52 gun fired a shell a distance of almost 67 km (42 mi). As of 2020, a prototype L52 gun with a new charge is being tested for a range of at least 75 km (47 mi).
FV433, 105mm, Field Artillery, Self-Propelled "Abbot" is the self-propelled artillery, or more specifically self-propelled gun (SPG), variant of the British Army FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), using much of the chassis of the FV430 but with a fully rotating turret at the rear housing the 105 mm gun and given the vehicle designation of FV433.
The M777 howitzer is a towed 155 mm artillery piece in the howitzer class. It is used by the ground forces of Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States. It was first used in combat during the War in Afghanistan.
The Camion Équipé d'un Système d'Artillerie or CAESAR is a French 155 mm, 52-caliber self-propelled howitzer that can fire 39/52 caliber NATO-standard shells. It is installed on a 6x6 or 8x8 truck chassis. Equipped with an autonomous weapon network incorporating an inertial navigation system and ballistic computer, the CAESAR can accurately strike targets more than 40 kilometres (25 mi) away using "Extended Range, Full Bore" (ERFB) ammunition with base bleed, or targets over 55 kilometres (34 mi) away using rocket-assisted or smart ammunition.
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and private corporations including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aerospace Industries for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and is now manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace. K9 howitzers operate in groups with the K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle variant.
Fälthaubits 77 or FH77 is a Swedish 155 mm howitzer, developed and manufactured by Bofors. It is also colloquially known as the Bofors gun in India. There were several versions, the original with a 38 calibre barrel and sliding block mechanism, the export version FH77 B version with a 39 calibre barrel and an interrupted ogival screw breech. For the demonstrator of the Archer Artillery System, some FH77A were modified into FH 77 AD L/45, while the series production were FH77Bs rebuilt into FH77 BW L/52. The carriage was also used for the KARIN, used in the Swedish coastal artillery.
The Archer Artillery System, or Archer – FH77BW L52, or Artillerisystem 08, is a Swedish self-propelled howitzer system. The main piece of the system is a fully automated 155 mm L52 (52-calibre-long) gun-howitzer and a M151 Protector remote-controlled weapon station mounted on a modified 6×6 chassis of the Volvo A30D all-terrain articulated hauler. The crew and engine compartment is armoured and the cab is fitted with bullet and fragmentation-resistant windows. The system also includes an ammunition resupply vehicle, a support vehicle, BONUS submunitions, and M982 Excalibur guided projectiles.
The Nora B-52 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Military Technical Institute and manufactured by Yugoimport SDPR in Velika Plana, Serbia.
T-155 Fırtına is a Turkish variant of K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer originally developed by South Korea. It is manufactured and assembled by Turkish Land Forces at the 1010th Army Equipment Repair Factory using imported subsystems from Korea. It has an ongoing upgrade project dubbed as T-155 Fırtına II, possibly changing its engine to Turkish origin to avoid Germany's restriction on Turkey's defence sales.
ATMOS is a 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled gun system manufactured by Israeli military manufacturer Soltam Systems.
155 mm is a NATO-standard artillery shell caliber that is used in many field guns, howitzers, and gun-howitzers. It is defined in AOP-29 part 1 with reference to STANAG 4425.
The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems and Kalyani Strategic Systems.
Dhanush (bow) is a 155 mm towed howitzer manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board. The gun was approved for service in 2019 and has been inducted into the Indian Army. The Dhanush project was started by OFB to replace the older 105 mm Indian Field Gun, 105 mm Light Field Gun and the Russian 122 mm guns with a modern 155 mm artillery gun.
The AH4 howitzer is a Chinese 155 mm towed howitzer system manufactured by Norinco. Its main characteristic is that it has been designed to be lightweight, which allows greater tactical mobility. The weight of 4,500 kg, compared to a traditional system that can weigh 18,000 kg, allows the system to be airlifted via heavy-lift helicopters like the CH-47 or Mi-26, or transport aircraft like a C-130 or Y-8. Also, as a modern howitzer system, it possesses a range of engagement of up to 40 km using rocket-assisted projectiles.
Munitions India Limited (MIL) is an Indian state-owned defence company, headquartered in Pune, India, established in 2021 as part of the restructuring and corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven different Public Sector Undertakings. Munitions India primarily manufactures ammunition, explosives, rockets and bombs for the use of the Indian Armed Forces, foreign militaries and domestic civilian use.