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“Are we not late vis-à-vis other modern artilleries,”
General V K Singh asked while addressing the Third
International Seminar on Artillery Technology
organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) recently.
He stressed that it was “imperative” that India
modernised its artillery systematically to compete
with the best in the world. “While other advanced
nations have leapt far ahead in the field, we
are still lagging behind.”
The Army chief cautioned that any delay in this
regard would render the gap between the frontrunners
and laggers “impossible to be narrowed” down.
“We certainly need to catch up, and catch up fast.
We have to take much longer strides and accelerate
our efforts.”
Citing the example of some artillery equipment,
like the Smerch Russianmade multiple rocket launcher,
that is still in the process of induction, the
Army chief said: “The so-called modern weapons
are, in fact, already in the process of replacement
in the developed countries. Smerch has been in
service in Russia since 1990 and we are still
inducting it in our army.”
“Such a state is disturbing and most unwarranted,
and merits urgent rectification,” he added.
Gen Singh said India also needed to upgrade its
existing equipment to make it “akin to the state-of-the-art,
and provide it with extra life”.
 He
also sought more interaction between the armed
forces and the DRDO, India’s premier defence research
organisation, for the development of better artillery
and missile technology to make the country’s defence
self-reliant.
“Such concerted and coordinated efforts would
surely lead to a technologically modernised Indian
Army in a foreseeable future. However, such an
approach can only be successful if there is a
high degree of understanding amongst the partners,”
he said, cautioning that “an element of ego in
any of the partners” will a “great setback” to
the partnership.
Speaking about the artillery modernization programme
of the Indian Army, Director General Artillery
Lt Gen K R Rao, said: “In the pursuit of modernisation,
we must not forget upgradation of our existing
equipment to make it somewhat akin to the state
of the art, and provide it with extra life. Upgradation
of 130mm guns to 155mm 45 cal guns is nearly complete
and the upgradation of the 155mm 39 calibre guns
is being progressed. Our age old 120mm Mortars
also require immediate upgradation and we need
to look at long range mortars with enhanced range
and precision capabilities.”
The Artillery DG also laid down the requirements
for future.
“The futuristic artillery platforms should be
independent and autonomous firing identities,
capable of firing on their own, achieved by introducing
automatic alignment, laying and loading of ammunition.
 “These
platforms should have matching mobility in case
of towed guns, adequate protection in case of
self propelled guns and portability by helicopters
and aircraft in the case of light guns,” Rao added.The
army has been waiting for 23 years for new field
guns and at long last, in January, the US Defense
Security Cooperation Agency notified the country’s
Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to
India of 145 M777 155mm ultra-light howitzers
with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems
(LINAPS) and associated parts, equipment, training
and logistical support for a complete package
worth approximately $647 million.
The Indian Army, however, is yet to take a decision
on another 250 towed and self-propelled 155mm
guns.
The Indian Field Howitzer – 2000 (IFH-2000),
developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics,
or STK, is competing for the Indian tender with
British company BAE Systems’ FH- 77B-05, a derivative
of the politically controversial but batllefield
respected Bofors gun. The lower-profile IFH- 2000
is the world’s first 155mm 52- calibre howitzer,
which the Singapore Armed Forces have used for
over a decade. The trials for this gun are due
to begin this summer, possibly from June itself.
The Army had purchased 410 Bofors 155mm howitzers
in 1986 but the deal was mired in corruption charges
and the name of the then Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi was dragged in. The Supreme Court eventually
found no wrongdoing but the taint stuck to Bofors,
as a result of which it was not considered for
a new order.
The gun had performed admirably during the 1999
Kargil conflict with Pakistan but only some 200
are operational now due to normal wearand- tear
and cannibalisation.
Trials for procuring 155 mm, 52- calibre towed
guns began in summer 2002, when the Defence Ministry
began evaluating three guns from BAE Systems;
Israeli firm Soltam; and South African company
Denel. Five rounds of trials conducted in 2002,
2003, 2004 and 2006 reached no conclusion. Denel
was blacklisted for corruption in September 2005;
the other two guns did not meet the Army’s standards,
particulalry after the Israeli gun exploded during
trials.
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