Ministry Keen to Purchase 500 More Howitzer Guns from BAE Systems

[Agent_47]

The MSC alone needs 2-3 SQNs (20-25) worth of CH-47F, for supporting the BRO there is a requirment for a further 1 SQN, for the Northern Command a further 2-3 SQNs are required and for all other duties (Southern command and in the future ANC) 1-2 SQNs by 2025. More orders are certeinly on the way for the CH-47.

Not true, last month IAF chief said they require 2 sqd of chinook and follow on order of 7 will be be forwarded after current order.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Please tell this to DRDO also and stop wasting your time on Arjun, Tejas, Nishant and many more just prepare the shoping list.

You are needlessly confusing issues. The Tejas, Nirbhay, Arihant etc etc are strategic projects- no one is going to provide all the requsite technology to India especially not where conventions like the MTCR restrict such options and thus they need to be pursued in house. A product like the M777 is very advanced but can be procured off the shelf to meet the immediate needs of the military. Naturally the long term ambition would be to produce a similar Indian product but the resources of the DRDO are not infinte and they are devouting their attention to priority areas right now- end of story.

Not true, last month IAF chief said they require 2 sqd of chinook and follow on order of 7 will be be forwarded after current order.

He stated what the current contract looked like (2 SQN worth with a further 1 SQN worth of follow ons) but did not say what the final requirement was, it is clear there is a vast requirement for Chinooks in the long term, far in excess of 22.

 

[Agent_47]

He stated what the current contract looked like (2 SQN worth with a further 1 SQN worth of follow ons) but did not say what the final requirement was, it is clear there is a vast requirement for Chinooks in the long term, far in excess of 22.

No, he specifically said IAF 'requirement', how can be there sudden future requirement ?
IAF per heli sqd is 11.That means 22 total.
Unwanted fancy toy importing is a bad habit. #justsaying

 

[Abingdonboy]

No, he specifically said IAF 'requirement', how can be there sudden future requirement ?
IAF per heli sqd is 11.That means 22 total.
Unwanted fancy toy importing is a bad habit. #justsaying

Immediate requirement may be 22 units but in the long term the requirements will only grow- this is "sudden" it is only logical. Think about the MSC, the Western Sector, the North and NE where the BRO requires heavy lift helos then the rest of the country who will require CH-47 coverage- 22 (2 SQNs worth) is not nearly enough. Just hear we are talking about the possibility of 645-800 M777s being in service, how exactly do you support them with just 22 Chinooks and around 200 Mi-17 V5s? The entire purpose of the MSC was that it was to be highly air mobile from its HQ in West Bengal, the IAF is already building the Panagarh AFB into a major infrastructure hub for basing CH-47Fs, C-17s, C-130J-30s and A330 MRTTs- not even the entire fleet of 22 would be sufficent in this case. The MSC is being raised with long term goals in mind, to think that more Chinooks won't be ordered is quite unfathomable to be honest especially with the kind of funds the Indian military is going to have to spend in the next 10-15 years.

The CH-47F is hardly "unwanted" of a fancy "toy"

 

[Agent_47]

Immediate requirement may be 22 units but in the long term the requirements will only grow- this is "sudden" it is only logical. Think about the MSC, the Western Sector, the North and NE where the BRO requires heavy lift helos then the rest of the country who will require CH-47 coverage- 22 (2 SQNs worth) is not nearly enough. Just hear we are talking about the possibility of 645-800 M777s being in service, how exactly do you support them with just 22 Chinooks and around 200 Mi-17 V5s? The entire purpose of the MSC was that it was to be highly air mobile from its HQ in West Bengal, the IAF is already building the Panagarh AFB into a major infrastructure hub for basing CH-47Fs, C-17s, C-130J-30s and A330 MRTTs- not even the entire fleet of 22 would be sufficent in this case. The MSC is being raised with long term goals in mind, to think that more Chinooks won't be ordered is quite unfathomable to be honest especially with the kind of funds the Indian military is going to have to spend in the next 10-15 years.

The CH-47F is hardly "unwanted" of a fancy "toy"

It is not up to us to judge the requirements, They are professional they know whats best for them. They plan things decades ahead.
This extra numbers news can be sponsored rumor.
Your views has always been pro import, Just being critical of it.

 

[Abingdonboy]

It is not up to us to judge the requirements, They are professional they know whats best for them. They plan things decades ahead.

I'm not doubting that and this is why I am certain they will actually be procuring many more Chinooks in the future, as I have said 22 is just about enough for current requirements but looking ahead it will be woefully insufficent.

Your views has always been pro import, Just being critical of it.

As long as India isn't able to produce anything even remotely in its class then yes, I will support imports on this front.

 

[Eminent Mainstream Media]

The CH-47F is hardly "unwanted" of a fancy "toy"

I would be surprised If IAF also doesn't have a squadron or two of Mi26 helos in their plans- The load hauling capabilities of these have no parallel-

 

[Abingdonboy]

I would be surprised If IAF also doesn't have a squadron or two of Mi26 helos in their plans- The load hauling capabilities of these have no parallel-

But it comes at a very heavy price in terms of life cycle costs. I can definatly see the utility in the Mi-26 for the BRO and for the devlopment of India's infrastrucutre in the remote areas but as a military product its utility is limited. I think it would be great if the state owned Pawan Hans could buy a few Mi-26s to be chartered by public and private construction projects in India.

 

[surya kiran]

We cannot make Ultra LIGHT Guns like M 777

Hm...no. Bharat Forge has a ultra light howitzer. They are currently increasing the range.

@MaarKhoor

 

[Maarkhoor]

Hm...no. Bharat Forge has a ultra light howitzer. They are currently increasing the range.

@MaarKhoor

Then brother keep R & D soon you people able to produce ultra light Howitzers why you are wasting so much of money.

 

[surya kiran]

Then brother keep R & D soon you people able to produce ultra light Howitzers why you are wasting so much of money.

Because, the requirement is for now. The process is quite long. They will need to change the calibre. Then make it available to the IA departments. Then it will be made available for discussion for the MoD. Its a minimum of 5 year process. At best 3 years.

The current process was initiated a few years back. This is an extension of the same.

 

[Eminent Mainstream Media]

But it comes at a very heavy price in terms of life cycle costs. I can definatly see the utility in the Mi-26 for the BRO and for the devlopment of India's infrastrucutre in the remote areas but as a military product its utility is limited. I think it would be great if the state owned Pawan Hans could buy a few Mi-26s to be chartered by public and private construction projects in India.

We have unique challenge with the Himalayas and non-accessible terrain- specially in the Arunachal- one use could be simply hauling a loaded SAM TEL or a Tunguska to a Hill top- or a Barhmos TEL- Even a radar system or a make shift medical unit- It provides remarkable flexibility in deployment option- even in the heat of battle-

 

[Khafee]

This is in addition to the pending deal to buy 145 towed guns

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to place yet another multi-million dollar order with BAE Systems Inc for purchasing 500 more M777 ultra-light Howitzer guns. This is even as it is all set to sign the pending sale of 145 gun-pack with the UK-headquartered defence major.

Apparently, the Ministry has already expressed its interest to procure 500 pieces for the Indian Army from BAE Systems, according to official sources. However, commercial talks are yet to begin.

On the other hand, the long-pending deal to purchase 145 pieces of the M777 155mm 39 caliber towed guns is learnt to have already reached its final leg and the contract will be signed by the middle of 2016.

“The Indian Army has a huge requirement for modern Land Systems, both weapons and vehicles, and we are well positioned to help India fulfil that,” John Brosnan, Managing Director (South-East Asia and India), BAE Systems, told BusinessLine.

On the company’s future plans, Brosnan said BAE Systems has a longstanding partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on ‘Combat Hawk’ advanced jet trainer (AJT).

The AJTs will be utilised to train Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots.

“We are currently exploring new opportunities for BAeHAL, our joint venture with HAL,” he said.

Brosnan said BAE Systems is working closely with the Indian and US governments to support early conclusion of the M777 deal. “The American government is now in the process of finalising the letter of acceptance (LoA) for submission to the Indian authorities and thereafter the deal can be inked.

“The 145 Howitzers will be procured under this deal with the commitment of assembly, integration and testing here in India under the offset policy,” he said.

However, sources said the new LoA includes a revised price of $735-750 million, an escalation of six to eight per cent from the older price of $694 million, which was finalised in October 2013 under the previous UPA regime.

At that time talks did not progress further until the present government cleared it in May.

BAE also plans to set up an assembly plant with domestic defence firms to manufacture the guns in India under the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

Ministry keen to purchase 500 more Howitzer guns from BAE Systems : The Hindu Business Line - Mobile edition

@Joe Shearer @DESERT FIGHTER @TankMan In an age of MLRS & Self Propelled Artillery, what do you make of this "additional" 500 towed units?

 

[Water Car Engineer]

@Joe Shearer In an age of MLRS & Self Propelled Artillery, what do you make of this "additional" 500 towed units?

This is mostly for areas with difficult, mountainous terrain.

 

[raktaka]

@Joe Shearer @DESERT FIGHTER @TankMan In an age of MLRS & Self Propelled Artillery, what do you make of this "additional" 500 towed units?

The worlds first rifle/musket/hand cannon was invented in was invented in the 13th Century.

We still continue to use them today. Only with tech. advancement we call them "assault rifle" now.

The worlds first cannon was invented in the 13th century too, so no prize for guessing we will continue to use them in the near future.

Artillery is arguably the most lethal form of land-based armament currently employed by any army world wide. Their use in Mountain warfare is priceless.

Considering India has around 10,000 km of Mountain border (including Nepal and Bhutan) 500 light weight artillery gun is far too little. We really need something in the range of 5000 Light weight 155 mm Guns.


No amount of Helicopter or Pinaka or Smerch can replace this versatile warfare equipment.