Artillery Modernization
Towed Artillery
The army has substantial artillery forces. The best estimate places the army's towed artillery capabilities at more than 4,000 pieces. In addition to the towed artillery, the army has self-propelled artillery. The Indian Army has 15 independent artillery brigades, which along with organic artillery units assigned to divisions include 1 heavy artillery battalion, 11 self-propelled medium artillery battalions, 3 self-propelled artillery battalions, 66 field artillery battalions, and 39 mountain artillery battalions.
As of 2000 it was expected that a total of up to 3000-4000 new 155mm/52-caliber howitzers will be procured over the next two decades to equip the 185 tube artillery regiments as part of its Field Artillery Rationalization Plan. All SP and towed artillery assets, except for the 105-mm Light Guns used by mountain and parachute units, are to be standardized on a 155-mm/52 caliber ordnance under this plan.
The 105 mm Indian and Light Field Guns (IFG/LFG) were being replaced by 130mm M-46 Field Gun. About 200 of the M-46 guns are purchased each year to replace the 105mm IFG/LFG. Nearly 500 of the M-46 guns were earmarked for upgrade to the 155mm/39-caliber and 155mm/45-caliber by Soltam Systems Ltd. of Israel. But the attempt to upgrade the Russian-supplied 130MM guns to 155MM calibre has been ridden with failures. By early 2009 approximately 180 pieces of 130mm M46 Russian medium guns had been successfully “up-gunned” to 155mm calibre with ordnance supplied by Soltam of Israel. The new barrel length of 45 calibre enhanced the range of the gun to about 40 km with extended range ammunition.
The Army initially planned to acquire 1,500 Bofors FH-77B howitzers, but due to the infamous 'Bofors Scandal' only 410 guns were purchased. Due to the lack of spares, an estimated 100 guns have been cannibalized and were not operational as of early 2002. The 155 mm Bofors guns are the mainstay of the artillery fire power of Indian army. These guns were due for overhaul after 18 years of service-life depending upon their usage. 506 ABW can overhaul 20 guns per annum. The capacity itself is very low to fulfill the overhaul requirement of Bofors gun. The workshop had overhauled only 12 guns as of 2005. The pilot overhaul of first six guns took 19 to 39 months. The time taken in overhaul of the next six guns ranged from four to seven months. With the inadequate capacity and support available, it would take decades to overhaul the entire population of these guns. Thus large number of the guns are likely to be held without overhaul, adversely affecting their operational preparedness.
ATE Factron 720 is a test equipment used for the repair of printed circuit boards and modules of Bofors Guns and its associated equipment. This equipment which is a critical requirement for the overhaul/repair of Bofors weapon system was imported from UK for Rs 7.20 crore as part of engineering support package for Bofors weapon system in 1989. The system developed snags in 1997 and was yet to be repaired. In its absence tests are carried out manually, which requires more time besides limiting the scope and reliability of testing.
India had 100 130mm Catapult guns which is a jury-rigged system of a Russian 130mm gun mounted on a Vijayanta chassis. Artillery officers complain the gun is too heavy for its chassis, which tends to break down regularly. The 155mm Soltam Guns mounted on Tatra vehicle have a range of approximately 40 kms.
As part of its modernisation program, the army is sought to induct 400 155MM guns of .52 calibre. In November 2005 the Indian Army barred South African artillery major Denel from fresh trials for the acquisition of the upgraded 155MM artillery guns, originally slated for early in 2006. Instead, Swedish SWS and Israeli Soltam were called for an unprecedented fourth trial to be held in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2006 to test the guns in winter conditions and in Pokhran in June 2006.
Despite the increasing obsolescence of artillery guns, mortars and rocket launchers, by 2008 no contract had been concluded for their replacement, even though protracted trials of several 155mm howitzers were carried out over the past few years. In January 2008 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued requests for Proposals (RFP) for various types of 155mm howitzers for the mountains and plains, and self- propelled guns for the desert.
The modernisation plan of tube artillery alone is likely to cost Rs 13,000 crores, or USD 3 billion-plus, going possibly to $ 4 billion. The major acquisitions will be of the initial lots of 400 towed howitzers of 155mm calibre, with a barrel length of 52 calibre, costing about Rs 4,000 crore, 140 ultra-light weight 155mm towed howitzers, with a barrel length of 45 calibre, costing Rs 3,000 crore and 180-185 wheeled SP 155mm howitzers costing Rs 5,000 crore. Another account states that the the total deal for 400 guns expected to be in the region of $2 billion. Of these, 140 guns will be of the ultra-light category, 185 of the wheeled version and the balance 175 of the towed version.
By 2009, nearly two decades since the Bofors scandal, if the Army was lucky, four guns short-listed will go for trials and a final selection made that could join the Army by 2012. For the ultra-light weight 155mm towed howitzers, UK’s BAE Systems will try to impress Indians with its M777 light-weight 155-mm, 39-calibre Howitzer, used by the American and British forces. BAE, which now owns Bofors, may face competition from Israel’s Soltam Systems.
Artillery Rockets
The first Pinaka regiment was raised in February 2000. A regiment consists of three batteries of six Pinakas each, plus reserves. It is expected that one regiment will be added each year as the oldest BM-21s are withdrawn from service.
