India Refloats Tender for Tracked and Towed Gun Systems

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India Defence Online, New Delhi – The Indian government has once again floated tenders for Towed and Tracked Gun Systems and vendors from various countries like France, Britain and the U.S have been invited for the bids. The acquisition is a major part of the Indian Army’s modernisation programme but has always suffered setbacks due to repeat cancellations of the tender. While the process to acquire towed and tracked gun systems was initiated in 2006, tenders have been cancelled due to the alleged corruption and scams involving the bidding companies from abroad.

However, India has come close to negotiating the acquisition of 145 ultra light guns from BAE Systems US called the M-777 A1 since the trials for the same have been concluded in India. India plans to acquire this gun through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route and the US Congress has already given its clearance.

The M-777 A1 is an ultra light 155mm/45 calibre gun and its striking features include its mobility, transportability, survivability and lethality. Its light weight and independent suspension allow the weapon to travel over rougher terrain and be sling-loaded under various aircraft. The gun is made partly of titanium making it significantly lighter than the earlier versions in operation without compromising its full ammunition and range capability. The M-777 A-1 can be slung-carried by heavy lift aircraft or ferried by heavy trucks. It has digital controls and can move quickly after firing besides delivering munitions up to 40 kilometres.

India had earlier cancelled its Request for Proposal (RFP) for 1,580 towed guns (155mm, 52 calibres) earlier and pushed back the artillery modernisation programme by another five years. In January 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) floated an RFP for 145 pieces of ultra-light 39-calibre 155mm towed howitzers for use by the Indian Army’s mountain formations. The 145 howitzers were to equip seven medium artillery regiments and the RFP was issued to BAE Systems and Singapore Technologies. However, during the trials, Singapore Technologies was black-listed for its suspected involvement in a scam.

As of now, acquisition through the FMS route from US for 145 M777A1 ultra light howitzers is a viable option if the howitzer meets qualitative requirements. Even France has offered to give all the technology if India buys the Caesar gun which can meet both the tracked and towed requirements of India.

Indian Army’s artillery has been suffering in a major way due to lack of timely acquisitions and it still uses obsolete guns like the Bofors gun, the Light field gun and Soviet M-46 medium guns. The indigenously designed and manufactured 105mm Indian Field Gun and its light version have also joined the list of guns and howitzers heading for obsolescence.

Indian defence news and strategic intelligence

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