LoR for supply of 145 BAE M777 guns issued

[ROCKETRAJA]

SOURCE: SP’s Special Correspondent

After multiple twists and turns, the Indian MoD has finally dispatched a letter of request (LoR) to the Pentagon for the supply of 145 BAE Systems M777 ultra-light howitzer (ULH) guns. The foreign military sales (FMS) deal is expected to be worth roughly $650-million. According to the original notification to the US Congress in 2010, the package also includes laser inertial artillery pointing systems (LINAPS), warranty, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, the US Government and contractor representatives’ technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.




The ULHs will be easily transportable by heavy-lift helicopter or transport aircraft—in fact the CH-47F Chinook which the IAF has selected for its heavy helicopter competition is capable of transporting an M777 as an underslung load—one of the many requirements put down by the Indian Army for its light gun requirement. The M777 will be deployable in the Northern and Eastern sectors. The deal carries a 30 per cent offsets requirement.

 

[IND151]

The deal may get signed in 2 years I think.

 

[Abingdonboy]

The deal may get signed in 2 years I think.

Next 6-8 months this deal will be signed for sure.

 

[Gessler]

Next 6-8 months this deal will be signed for sure.

Yes, its the deliveries that'll start in next 1-2 years.

 

[acid rain]

'Bureaucracy a major impediment to Indo-US military ties' - Rediff.com India News

There's a lot of truth to the article.

 

[veekysingh]

why the **** be dont bulid our own, we can bulid rocket but cant build a big gun? drdo

 

[Abingdonboy]

Yes, its the deliveries that'll start in next 1-2 years.

Within 20 months of signing deal the first units will begin to arrive yes,

 

[Gessler]

why the **** be dont bulid our own, we can bulid rocket but cant build a big gun? drdo

We can make our own gun, yes. But IA generals and MoD tollgate-keepers wont get their kick-backs
if they buy indigenous product.

 

[Abingdonboy]

We can make our own gun, yes. But IA generals and MoD tollgate-keepers wont get their kick-backs
if they buy indigenous product.

It's got nothing to do with the IA. It is to do with the manufactures ie the OFB and the like. Look at the INSAS for eg, they are not even in the running to equip the IA for the F-INSAS project because their offerings are jsut not up to the level the IA wants for a next-gen rifle. When you ask the OFB why measures haven't been taken to reduce the weight by utlising polymers or produce a multi-calibre rifle or add more accessories or do this and that the answer you will always get is- "the IA didn't ask us to do that". This attitude present in some PSUs is so corrosive. They will try to get away with the bare minimum and won't innovate or conduct independent R&D or produce future solutions. It is no wonder the IA has to look elsewhere. Now I do feel this mindset is changing but it will take time and for now the only thing the Indian military can do in many cases is look abroad. It is a damn tragedy but it is what it is. The Indian military should not have to settle for second best.

 

[veekysingh]

It's got nothing to do with the IA. It is to do with the manufactures ie the OFB and the like. Look at the INSAS for eg, they are not even in the running to equip the IA for the F-INSAS project because their offerings are jsut not up to the level the IA wants for a next-gen rifle. When you ask the OFB why measures haven't been taken to reduce the weight by utlising polymers or produce a multi-calibre rifle or add more accessories or do this and that the answer you will always get is- "the IA didn't ask us to do that". This attitude present in some PSUs is so corrosive. They will try to get away with the bare minimum and won't innovate or conduct independent R&D or produce future solutions. It is no wonder the IA has to look elsewhere. Now I do feel this mindset is changing but it will take time and for now the only thing the Indian military can do in many cases is look abroad. It is a damn tragedy but it is what it is. The Indian military should not have to settle for second best.

both hv problems , defences psu's and IA both.

 

[Ashoka The Great]

We really need this deal to go through ASAP as these light guns will prove to be very effective in northern and eastern sectors...with LINAPS, it will be big punch.....

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

We can make our own gun, yes. But IA generals and MoD tollgate-keepers wont get their kick-backs
if they buy indigenous product.

Its not kickbacks in this case.This lightweight gun is quite unique in its class.We do make our own guns[105mm light guns,and now indigenous 155mm] but this weapon is very good in its class and we can't make anything atm in its level without costly and lengthy development project just for some 200 guns for mountanous regions.Not worth it.
Also IA needs these guns ASAP not 5-10 yrs later after development project.