Modernisation of the Indian Artillery

Gurmeet KanwalArtillery firepower had paved the way for victory during the Kargilconflict. Despite the lessons learnt in Kargil, modernisation of theartillery continues to lag behind. The last major acquisition of towedgun-howitzers was that of about 400 pieces of 39-calibre 155 mm FH-77Bhowitzers form Bofors of Sweden in the mid-1980s. This gun had proved itsmettle in the Kargil conflict. Just when a contract for 120 tracked and 180wheeled self-propelled (SP) 155 mm guns was about to be concluded afteryears of repeated trials, South African arms manufacturer Denel, a leadingcontender for the contract, was alleged to have been involved in acorruption scam in an earlier deal for anti-material rifles (AMRs). Newtenders will now be floated, setting the programme back at least three tofour years. Meanwhile, the mechanised forces will continue to remain withoutSP artillery support.Since the Bofors 155 mm Howitzer was introduced into service, theindigenously designed and manufactured 105 mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) and its(not so) light version, the Light Field Gun (LFG), have joined the 75/24Indian Mountain Gun, the 100 mm Russian field gun and the 122 mm Russianhowitzer on the obsolescence list. Approximately 180 pieces of 130 mm M46Russian medium guns have been successfully "up-gunned" to 155 mm calibrewith ordnance supplied by Soltam of Israel. The new barrel length of 45calibres has enhanced the range of the gun to about 40 km with extendedrange ammunition.A contract for the acquisition of two regiments of the 12-tube, 300mmSmerch multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system with 90km range was reported to have been signed with Russia's Rosoboronexport inearly-2006. This will be a major boost for the long-range firepowercapabilities of the army. If this weapon system had been available duringthe Kargil conflict, Pakistan's brigade HQ and forward airfield at Skarduand other targets deep inside POK could have been hit with impunity.Extended range (ER) rockets are being introduced for the 122 mm Grad MBRLthat has been in service for over three decades. The ER rockets will enhancethe weapon system's range from 22 to about 40 km. A Rs 5,000 crore contracthas also been signed for the serial production of the Pinaka MBRL weaponsystem, another DRDO project plagued by time delays and completed with helpfrom Larsen and Toubro and the Tatas.The probability of the next conventional war breaking out in the mountainsis far higher than of a war in the plains. With this in view, the artilleryrecently conceptualised a requirement for a light-weight towed howitzer of 155mm calibre for employment in the mountains. Neither the present Boforshowitzer nor its replacement will be capable of operations in the mountains.A light-weight 45-calibre 155 mm howitzer weighing less than 5,000 kg, witha light but adequately powered prime mover, is ideal for the mountains. Thegun-train should be capable of negotiating sharp road bends without the needto unhook the gun from the prime mover. The two British 45-calibre 155mmhowitzers that competed for the US contract for a similar howitzersome years ago – the UFH (Ultra-lightweight Field Howitzer) and the LTH(Light-weight Towed Howitzer) – could be considered for licensed productionwith transfer of technology. A request for proposals for ultra-light weighthowitzers to equip seven regiments was issued in mid-January 2008.The modernisation plan of tube artillery alone is likely to cost Rs 13,000crore. The major acquisitions will be of 400 towed howitzers of 155mmcalibre, with a barrel length of 52 calibres, costing about Rs 4,000crore,140 ultra-light weight 155 mm towed howitzers, with a barrel length of 45calibres, costing Rs 3,000 crore and 180 SP 155 mm howitzers costing Rs5,000 crore. The "Shakti" project for a command and control systems for theartillery, called Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS), hasreached the stage of maturity and is now being fielded up to the regimentallevel.The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8 to 3.0), with a precisionstrike capability, very high kill energy and range of 290 km, was inductedinto the army in July 2007. It is a versatile missile that can be launchedfrom TATRA mobile launchers and silos on land, aircraft and ships and,perhaps in future, also from submarines. 50 BrahMos missiles are expected tobe produced every year. Efforts are underway to further increase its strikerange. BrahMos Aerospace has orders worth Rs 3,500 crore from the army andthe navy, which has opted for the anti-ship as well as the land attackcruise missile (LACM) versions. These terrain hugging missiles are virtuallyimmune to counter measures due to their high speed and very low radar crosssection and are far superior to sub-sonic cruise missiles like Pakistan'sBabur. Chile, Kuwait, Malaysia and South Africa have shown interest inacquiring this missile.