OFB 155mm/52 Dhanush Truck-Mounted Howitzer

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) based on Indian Army’s current requirements have developed a Prototype Truck-Mounted Howitzer fitted with a 155 mm/52 Dhanush howitzer which underwent thorough Internal trials before it can be offered to Indian Army for Trials.

Ordinance Factory Board at Defexpo 2016 displayed an extended 52 Cal gun, which can hit targets over 40 km and also had confirmed that it had completed internal trials of the new gun and had offered it to Indian Army for User trials. Indian Army was carrying out user trials of 45 Caliber Dhanush in 2018 for which likely order of 400 guns would be placed soon.

Indian Army to enhance the mobility of its Artillery division had planned to acquire 100 self-propelled tracked howitzers for which orders had placed for K-9 Vajra Jointly developed by South Korean Samsung-Techwin and its local Indian private-sector partner Larsen & Toubro. Indian Army also had a requirement for 180 wheeled self-propelled howitzers due to which OFB on its own developed first Truck based prototype in hopes of clinching the deal from Indian Army. Dhanush truck-mounted howitzer is based on 8×8 chassis mounted on a Tatra truck which gives it cross-country mobility.

The truck has an armored cab which provides protection for the crew against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. Since Dhanush 155 mm/52 howitzer towed was yet to go for Army User trials and Indian Army is clearly more interested in procurement of Next Generation indigenous 155mm 52-calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), jointly developed by the Defence Research and Private Players, it is unclear if Dhanush truck-mounted 155 mm/52 howitzer will find any interest from Indian Army.