Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Indian Army today inducted internationally combat proven M777 A2 Ultra Light Howitzers, K-9 Vajra-Tracked Self Propelled Guns and 6×6 Field Artillery Tractors to its artillery.
The decks for the Indian army’s proposal for 814 155mm/52 calibre mounted guns systems (MGS), at a cost of Rs 15,750 crore ($2.55 billion) were cleared by the former defence minister Manohar Parrikar at DAC meeting a couple of years ago.
The guns were dedicated to the nation at Devlali Field Firing Ranges, by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the presence of Chief of Army staff Gen Bipin Rawat, senior serving officers of the Indian Army and Ministry of Defence, representatives of manufacturing Industries as also dignitaries from the government of USA and South Korea.
The 155mm, 39 Calibre Ultra light Howitzers have been procured from US under government to government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, as has been reported by FE earlier and will be assembled in India by BAE Systems in partnership with Mahindra Defence.
The Gun System is versatile, light weight and can be heli lifted, thereby providing the much needed flexibility in employment in various terrains obtainable in the country. The Howitzer is in service in the US, Canadian, Australian and some other armies of the world. It has proven its mettle in difficult going areas of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The first ten K9 Vajra 155mm/52 calibre guns have been imported from Hanwha Techwin of South Korea in Semi Knocked Down state and have been assemble by L&T in India. The balance 90 Guns will be largely manufactured in India with some major assemblies coming from South Korea. Its induction will give a huge fillip to the firepower capability of Indian Army on our western borders.