What's new

Bofors guns may now be made in India

GORKHALI

SENIOR MEMBER
Nov 13, 2010
3,689
-9
5,241
Bofors guns may now be made in
India 11 Feb, 2011 0615hrs IST TNN [ Shishir Arya ] NAGPUR:


The gun that blazed a trail of controversy may be finally made at
home. It is likely that the Ordnance
Factory Board would get an order
from Indian Army for making the
155x45 mm Bofors-type howitzers. This is the same specification
purchased by the Indian army amidst all the controversy in mid-1980s. At the same time, the army has floated global tenders for the higher version of 155 X 52 mm caliber guns. Director general (DG) of OFB D M Gupta told TOI certain formalities pertaining to the order were yet to be finalised.He was in city to attend a conference of OF workers on quality management.The guns would be made using a transfer of technology (TOT)agreement already in place with the Swedish original equipment maker AB Bofors after the guns were purchased. The order is expected to be placed in a couple of months. The OFB is hopeful because the order may be placed on nomination basis meaning there would be no other contender, added a senior official in this organisation. The TOT agreement that the OFB had entered into allows it to make the spares as well further strengthen its case. The OFB already has the set-up and the government has a policy of encouraging indigenous production if there is capacity, added the DG. If the order is bagged, this would be
for the first time that such guns would be entirely made in India. The production was expected to be
undertaken at the Gun Carriage
Factory at Jabalpur, which makes the 105mm Indian Field Guns, the only indigenously developed howitzers.Earlier, the factory had upgraded the existing 155x45 guns purchased from Sweden to 155x52 mm as well as the 130 mm guns to 155 mm, added a source. However, fresh order is expected only for making the 155x45 mm gun as global tenders have been floated for 155x52 mm guns. Howitzers are identified by their barrel diameter. In case of 155x45 mm the first figure (155) refers to the diameter of the barrel while second (45) is indicates length of barrel is 45 times that of diameter. This fires a shell up to 30 kms while the 155X52 mm has the range of 40 kms. The OFB would also be undertaking aprogramme of increasing production of Pinaka rockets that have a range of over 35 km, said Gupta. Without divulging the figures, he said the capacity would be more than doubled. "There were problems relating to its functioning in cold areas which have been sorted out and soon a programme of scaling up the production will be undertaken. Similar initiatives will be undertaken for augmenting production of shells for T-90 and Arjun tanks too. Other expansion programmes entailing Rs 2,000 crore are also awaiting approval of the government," he added. Gupta said this financial year, the OFB would be clocking a 29% rise in turnover at Rs 11,208 crore as against Rs 8715 crore in previous fiscal.
 
So is this bofors better than M777 howitzers?

No they are meant for different roles

Bofors are Towed Wheeled Guns while M777 is Ultra Light Howitzer

India has a requirement for 1580 Towed Howitzer while it has a requirement for only up to 300 M777
 
^^ Both the guns have one major shortfall. MOBILITY! It is a good thing we're making bofors in India. But we really need some self propelled artillery. Strategic airlift can only get you so far..
 
GOOD GOD... just buy them for f&$ksake!!! I'm sure whatever platforms is bought will be a major step up from what the IA has in its inventory right now. India already has a notorious record for opaque and shady defence procurements (Hawk- the LONGEST A/C deal in HISTORY) the MOD really needs to work on this!
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 1, Members: 0, Guests: 1)


Pakistan Defence Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom