Bharat Forge Kalyani and Uralvagonzavod Sign 155mm SP Howitzer Co-production Deal

"MSTA-S" self-propelled guns. Source:mil.ru [via RIR]

General Director of the "Uralvagonzavod" corporation Oleg Sienko and the CEO of the Indian company Bharat Forge Kalyani of the Kalyani Group signed a memorandum of understanding providing for the establishment of the co-production of self-propelled artillery units (SAU) in India. It's not clear if the deal will bring the Russian gun back into contention for supplying SP 155mm howitzers to India under its artillery modernization program. [source]

The ET reported on July 1, 2016 that MoD had wrapped price negotiations with L&T for purchase of 100 guns, earmarked for deployment along India's border with Pakistan.

A contract has been finalized and will be forwarded for approval to the Cabinet Committee on Security.

The value of the contract - Rs 4,500-crore - makes it the largest to be entrusted to the industry.

L&T, along with its technology partner Samsung, will produce the guns in India at L&T's Strategic Systems Complex at Talegaon near Pune with close to 50% indigenous content.

The Indian Express reported on January 11, 2016 that MoD on December 22, 2015 opened the price bid of L&T, the only gun to qualify in the trials. Price negotiations with L&T will commence this month and are likely to be concluded in this financial year. The deal for 100 guns is estimated to cost between Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 crore. The contract will also have a follow-up option clause of 50 additional K9 Vajra-T guns.

The first 10 guns are to be supplied by L&T to the Army within 18 months of signing, with the balance 90 guns to be supplied in the next two years.

Additional details are available on my paid (Rs 500/- per year) access site IDP Sentinel.

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OFB's Dhanush 155-mm/45-cal Gun Cleared for Production after Critical Trials

Dhanush features advance electronic equipment for accurately laying the gun on target at long ranges. 

OFB's Dhanush 155-mm/45-cal towed gun on Friday, June 20, 2014 successfully completed critical trials at Pokharan paving the way for production to commence.

According to TNIE, the trials were witnessed by Minister of State for Defense Production Rao Inderjit Singh.

The trials cleared doubts about the gun arising from a barrel burst in August 2013, during last year's summer trials. OFB investigated the incident and concluded that neither the gun nor its barrel were at fault. It carried out internal firing trials to validate the conclusion.

Following Fridays success, the Army will now follow through the summer trials from the point where they were abandoned last year.

The gun successfully underwent winter trials at high altitudes in Sikkim last winter.

The Indian Army and Ordinance Factory Board have teamed up to build the 155-mm/45-cal Dhanush towed gun using TOT from the late 1980s contract to purchase 155-mm / 39-cal FH 77 B02 for the Army. Besides longer range than the Bofors gun, Dhanush features advanced electronics to accurately lay the gun on target.

The Army has projected an initial requirement for 414 of these guns, each of which will cost over Rs 14 crore, as part of its long-delayed artillery modernization program.

IDP Sentinel members can read more about the Dhaush towed gun at the link below.

Dhanush 155 mm/45 Caliber Upgraded Bofors Howitzer - IDP Sentinel

DRDO Successsfully Tests Pinaka Mk-2 MBRLS

Pinaka 214mm MBRLS during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade in 2012. Photo Credit : PIB

DRDO tested the Pinaka Mk-2 Multi Barrel Rocket Launch System (MBRLS) on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at Chandipur-on-sea, near Balasore in Odisha by firing three salvos.

 

"Three rounds of Pinaka rockets were successfully tested from the proof and experimental establishment (PXE) today at Chandipur," a source told PTI.

In July 2013, the Pinaka Mk-2 system had undergone successful trials at Chandhan area in Pokhran field firing ranges in western Rajasthan.

Development and trials of Pinaka Mk-2 is ongoiing and the advanced unguided rocket system is expected to enter service very soon.

DRDO is developing the Pinaka MK-II rocket, with an extended range of 60 kms, against 40 km for Pinaka Mk-I. 

In an interview with The Hindu published on August 22, 2013, DRDO Chief Avinash Chander confirmed that his scientists are "enhancing the range of Pinaka rockets from the existing 40 km to 60 km for Pinaka mark II."

Previously it was reported that early static validation trials of the rockets are underway and DRDO plans user trials of its warhead. 

IDP Sentinel members can read more about the Pinaka MBRLS at the link below.

Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launch System (MBRLS) - IDP Sentinel

Tata Power - Strategic Engineering Division (SED) 155-mm/52-cal MGS at DefExpo 2014

Tata Power SED's 155-mm/52-cal  Mounted Gun System at DefExp0 2014

Tata Power SED's 155-mm/52-cal  Mounted Gun System (MGS) is competing in a global tender to procure 814 155mm / 52 caliber mounted gun systems through a joint venture with the private sector under its artillery modernization program.

The gun  has a range of

• 31-km with a Boat Tail projectile
• 42-km with Base Bleed projectile
• 55-km with V-LAVP projectile

It features a ring laser gyro inertial system, weapon management system and a automatic laying system with joystick control

The gun has a traverse of -3-deg to +75-deg in elevation and 40-deg right and left in azimuth.

You can read more about the Indian Army's 155-mm/52-cal MGS procurement at

155mm / 52 Caliber Mounted Gun System (MGS) (IDP Sentinel)