The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has developed the electronically upgraded desi version of the original Swedish 155mm Bofors howitzer, and the guns are currently at the trial stage.
The artillery gun has been christened 'Dhanush'.
The long-forgotten designs obtained under transfer of technology (ToT) provisions in the infamous Rs 1,437-crore Bofors contract in 1986 for 410 howitzers have been used to develop the new guns.
The Army wants 414 such guns. They have been upgraded to 45-calibre from the original 39-calibre to give the new howitzer a 38-km range compared to the 30-km of the original Bofors gun.
The OFB has already been given an over Rs 1,260 crore order to make 114 howitzers.
Two modern 'Mi' helicopters, armed with latest avionics to fly in deep jungles and conduct night sorties, were inducted into the elite air wing of the country's largest border guarding force BSF.
The two Mi-17-V5 choppers are the first batch of the total eight helicopters' fleet which are expected to join the Border Security Force by this year-end.
Image: A water canon salute is given for two Mi-17 V5 Helicopters during the induction ceremony into the Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi on April 9, 2015.
The military choppers, embossed with the BSF logo and name, were given a tri-colour water jet salute as soon as they landed at the tarmac here.
Image: Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) D. K. Pandey (L) watches as an Indian priest offers prayers with Junior Home Minister, Kiren Rijiju (2L) during the induction ceremony for two Mi-17 V5 Helicopters into the Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi on April 9, 2015.
Kiren Rijiju hailed BSF men and women for keeping the air wing flying despite many 'constraints.'
BSF Director General D K Pathak and other officials of the air wing were also present at the event.
Image: Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) D. K. Pandey (R) talks with MoS Kiren Rijiju (L) during the induction ceremony for two Mi-17 V5 Helicopters into the Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi on April 9, 2015.