India Cancels Wheeled Howitzer Purchase

[1nd1a]

NEW DELHI - The Indian Defence Ministry has canceled the tender to purchase 180 wheeled 155mm/52-caliber howitzers, another in a series of setbacks for the long-delayed Army program.

The Indian Army has failed to induct a single 155mm howitzer since 1987.

Defence Ministry sources said the purchase of the wheeled guns is being canceled following complaints to Defence Minister A.K. Antony about technical snags that came to light when a gun from one of the competitors, Konstrukta of Slovakia, burst during trials last year.

Currently Rheinmetall of Germany and Konstrukta are in the race for the $1 billion wheeled gun competition after Samsung of South Korea was eliminated from the procurement process in 2009.

After the howitzer burst during the trials last year, a Defence Ministry committee concluded the guns offered by Rheinmetall and Konstrukta are prototypes that are not in use even in their home countries.

In 2008, the tender for the wheeled guns was sent to the U.K.'s BAE Systems; Slovakia's Konstrukta; France's Nexter; IMI and Soltam of Israel; Samsung of South Korea; United Defense of the U.S.; Rheinmetall of Germany; and Rosoboronexport of Russia.

Only Rheinmetall, Konstrukta and Samsung were shortlisted after the technical evaluations.

The Indian Army requires that the wheeled 155mm/52-caliber guns be able to travel up to 40 kilometers and fire 150 rounds of ammunition in six to eight hours.

The gun should be able to operate day and night and receive data from the command post in digital and audio form.

The howitzer procurement is already delayed by more than 10 years, mainly due to India's blacklisting first of Denel of South Africa and then Singapore Technologies in 2008 because of alleged corruption.

The Army plans to buy 145 ultralight howitzers, 158 towed and wheeled, 100 tracked and 180 wheeled and armored guns in the first phase of its program to upgrade its artillery divisions.
Towed Guns

In May, BAE Systems opted out of the towed howitzer competition because the Indian Army changed requirements in the reissued tender of early 2011.

The Army's 2008 attempt to acquire the towed guns failed when BAE, which had fielded the FH-77B-5 gun, became the sole vendor after the other shortlisted competitor, Singapore Technologies, was blacklisted following allegations of corruption by India's Central Bureau of Investigation. The Army could not make an award if only one bidder qualified.
Light Howitzer

The purchase of light howitzers from BAE's U.S. subsidiary also was delayed when Singapore Technologies went to court and challenged the decision, claiming its gun was superior.

The Indian court has not issued a decision, although the Army strongly favors the immediate purchase of the 147 BAE light howitzers, Army officials said.


India Cancels Wheeled Howitzer Purchase - Defense News


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When are they going to buy these? Once India become part of China? Enough is enough!!!

 

[pmukherjee]

This is really frustrating.

 

[Basanti]

Something tells me Bhim and new Bofors is not far away from a part of the Army arsenal.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Something tells me Bhim and new Bofors is not far away from a part of the Army arsenal.

Yes, something seems to be in the air. Bofors in its new variant and avatar will come back via Mahindra-BAE. And its even better than the old (but politically tainted) Bofors howitzers that the IA grew to like so much.

 

[Avisheik]

failed to induct a single 155mm howitzer since 1987?? Damn, that means your current 155mm howitzer are really old

 

[ramu]

Yes, something seems to be in the air. Bofors in its new variant and avatar will come back via Mahindra-BAE. And its even better than the old (but politically tainted) Bofors howitzers that the IA grew to like so much.

Hope India produces them locally with/without help (from UK / Germany / US / Russia)

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

We Indians are more concerned about the process than substance of the matter at hand. Its more about procurement policy than procurement itself. Privatization is the answer, remove these 'babus', let military buy its own weapons.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Hope India produces them locally with/without help (from UK / Germany / US / Russia)

That step is not exactly the next one, but the one after the next.
In the meanwhile, Mahindra-BAE can step in with the next gen of the FH-77 howitzers to tide over the gap. While the IA needs to make their wish-list closer to reality (they can learn from the IN in this respect) and St.Anthony of New Delhi needs to climb down from his "holy horse" for a short while atleast.

 

[LiberalAtheist]

we are taking the old designs of the Bofors and reverse engineering them to modern standards OFB is doing this i believe.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

We Indians are more concerned about the process than substance of the matter at hand. Its more about procurement policy than procurement itself. Privatization is the answer, remove these 'babus', let military buy its own weapons.

That is not quite the solution. The IA (and most of the services) has for eons had the attitude of a "grumpy customer" waiting with a shopping list and basket. It has had very little involvement with "solution seeking". Hence it has perpetually been wanting to buy something that is not easily available over the counter. The IN (years ago) changed tack and became involved in seeking solutions and only then started getting products which approached their requirements, while the IA is still waiting for Santa Claus and his "bagful of goodies". In this scenario, the Wicked Witches (babus of MoD) get to exercise an enormous amount of power to control/manipulate the process.

Its great to have a shopping list, but if the customer becomes more assertive and takes on a greater role in helping to create the product of his choice; he will be taken much more seriously. Somehow the IA lacks the intellect to do so. The technological vision is lacking.

 

[Ambitious449]

Army has been hugely neglected . No good guns . not so good artilary.

 

[Birbal]

Just buy artillery from North Korea and add Indian computer controls...

 

[harpoon]

That step is not exactly the next one, but the one after the next.
In the meanwhile, Mahindra-BAE can step in with the next gen of the FH-77 howitzers to tide over the gap. While the IA needs to make their wish-list closer to reality (they can learn from the IN in this respect) and St.Anthony of New Delhi needs to climb down from his "holy horse" for a short while atleast.

Nicely said.

Sometimes his 'Holier than thou' attitude is frustrating to say the least.

 

[angeldemon_007]

I think we should purchase atleast the ultra light howitzer and wheeled ones as no-one in India is building them. If DRDO or OFB has some plans for them too then its fine but otherrwise we should purchase.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Why cant IA ever get past this one stumbling block? They are inducting other things of equal or greater value to this deal not to mention the other forces who are far outstripping IA's expenditure. When will we ever get past this??