Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan

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The Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan is a procurement-cum-development plan of the Indian Army proposed in the aftermath of the Kargil War, emboldened by the success of the 155mm Bofors guns in its inventory. The procurement involves direct import, manufacture under license and inhouse development of weapon systems.[1] The programme is slated to replace the weapons of 169 artillery regiments with modern weapon systems, predominantly 155mm medium guns.[2]

Under the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, the army plans to procure 3000 to 3600 pieces of artillery,[1] at a cost of US$3 billion. This includes purchasing 1580 towed, 814 mounted, 180 self-propelled wheeled, 100 self-propelled tracked and 145 ultra-light 155 mm/52 calibre artillery guns.

Ultra-light Howitzers[edit]

After three years of searching and negotiations, India ordered M777 155  ultra-light howitzer from USA in September 2013.[3]

The Indian Army first announced plans to acquire 145 guns for ₹30 billion (US$421 million),[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][7] On 2 August 2013, India requested the sale of 145 M777 howitzers for US$885 million.[8] On 24 February 2014 the purchase was again postponed.[9] On 11 May 2014 the purchase was cleared by India's Ministry of Defence.[10] On 11 July 2014, the Government of India announced that it would not order the guns because of cost issues.[11] On 22 November 2014, the selection process was restarted under the "Make In India" program.[12] On 13 May 2015, the Ministry of Defence approved ₹29 billion (₹2,900 crore) to buy 145 M777 ultralight howitzers from the US.[13] On 15 December 2015, the Indian Ministry of Defence said it was keen on placing a follow-up order of 500 more M777 guns.[14]

On 26 June 2016, it was announced that 145 guns will be purchased by India for US$750 million.[15] On 30 November 2016 Indian government completed the deal to buy 145 howitzers from the US.[16] The deal was completed in December 2016.[17] Under the agreement, BAE Systems supplied 25 ready-built howitzers, while 120 guns were manufactured in India by Mahindra Defence Systems Limited.[18]

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.[19][20] It was reported that on 2 September 2017, the barrel of one of the howitzers was damaged while firing during calibration trials.[21][22] The Indian army used the M777 howitzer in the Himvijay exercise in Arunachal Pradesh which involved the newly raised integrated battle groups.[23]

A total of 7 artillery regiments are planned, each of 18 guns. The first regiment is planned to be raised by end-2020 with 15 guns supplied by BAE systems and three guns supplied by Mahindra Defense Systems Limited.[24]

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.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Snehesh Alex Philip (4 June 2021). "India's artillery modernisation programme must not go the vaccine way". The Print. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ↑ Amrita Nayak Dutta (28 November 2021). "How Army's artillery modernisation plan, stuck in a rut after Bofors, is picking up pace". The Print. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  3. ↑ Dunnigan, James. "India Joins The M-777 Club". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Rajghatta, Chidanand (28 January 2010). "US okays howitzers worth $647 million for India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  5. ↑ HP. "India Orders 145 M777 Ultra Light Howitzers From BAE Systems". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "India clears $660 million deal for artillery guns". The Economic Times. 11 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Defence Ministry clears M777 howitzers procurement projects". DNA. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  8. ↑ FMS: India Requests Sale of 145 M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers Archived 14 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine - Deagel.com, 7 August 2013
  9. ↑ Raghuvanshi, Vivek (24 February 2014). "India Postpones Purchase of 145 Ultra Light Howitzers". defensenews.com. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "India buys new artillery guns, 27 years after Bofors". 11 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Indian MoD says M777 buy in doubt over high cost, offset requirements". 13 July 2014. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Pandit, Rajat (23 November 2014). "Three decades on, defence minister clears Rs 15,750 crore howitzer projects". The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Govindan, Adarsh (14 May 2015). "New Aircraft Carrier, Brahmos Missiles, C-295 Planes & M-777 Howitzers all cleared for Purchase". defencenews.in. TNN. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Basu, Nayanima (14 December 2015). "Ministry keen to purchase 500 more Howitzer guns from BAE Systems". The Hindu Businessline. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  15. ↑ "India clears purchase of 145 ultra-light Howitzer guns from US". India Today. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "M777 howitzer deal inked by the Indian government". 30 November 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  17. ↑ Lal, Neeta (19 December 2016). "India Gets its Guns – 30 years late". Asia Sentinel. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "Indian Army's M777 regiment to get 3 made-in-India guns". Hindustan Times. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  19. ↑ "Army gets its first artillery guns three decades after Bofors, will be tested at Pokhran today". indianexpress. 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  20. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (18 May 2017). "Two M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers arrive from U.S." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  21. ↑ "Army's new US-made M777 howitzer in trouble, barrel explodes at Pokhran range". 12 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  22. ↑ "Barrel of US-manufactured Howitzer gun explodes during Indian army's calibration trial". Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  23. ↑ S.K. Gurung (7 October 2019). "India China: India to deploy latest American weapon systems for Ex-HimVijay along China border - The Economic Times". Economic Times. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Indian Army's M777 regiment to get 3 made-in-India guns - The Economic Times". Economic Times. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  25. ↑ "Border clashes prompt India to fast-track weapons buys". 7 July 2020.
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