India Army Artillery

[Nilgiri]

 

[fire starter]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1606911619665367040

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[Zapper]

Indian Army to buy 307 ATAGS howitzers

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1630949036915326976

https://aninews.in/news/national/ge...loyment-along-china-pak-border20230301195533/

 

[JOYDEEPGHOSH]

300 K9 Vajra T is OK But Where is K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle​

300 K9 Vajra T is OK But Where is K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle

The Indian Army currently operates five nos of K9 Vajra T 155mm /52 caliber Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) regiments. Each regiment is equip...

rbt-defense.blogspot.com

 

[JOYDEEPGHOSH]

Common Sense Dictates – Some Simple Ideas to Boost Defense Preparedness​

4. Go for Double-barrelled 120 mm Breech Loaded Mortars for Indian Army

Common sense dictates that it's time IA opts for double-barrelled 120 mm Breech Loaded Mortars. So what is the benefit many may ask, why? the reasons are pretty simple as follows:-
a. Indian Army doesn't have double-barrelled 120 mm breech-loaded mortars.
b. What it has is OFB E1 120mm, a muzzle-loaded single barrel 120 mm mortar.
c. First benefit is that it is double-barrelled meaning double the firepower.d. Second benefit is that OFB E1 120mm is the static muzzle-loaded mortar that needs to be carried around, requires the manpower of 8 people, and mules to carry them or the wheeled version has to be towed and install them. It also means it can't move forward with advancing army units at a fast pace.
e. A highly effective, highly mobile system can be very cheap if not used as a turret system.
f. On the other hand a double-barrelled 120 mm breech-loaded mortar that is typically installed at the back of IFV, APC, the jeep can move forward with advancing army units at faster pace with double the firepower, also it doesn't need manpower to carry them.

5. Common Sense Says Tank MRO and Not Trucks at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
When I say Tank MRO and not trucks at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, I say this bcoz that is what sound common sense application should be as it saves the government hundreds of crores of taxpayers' money as well as boost defense preparedness. If you ask how and why? Common sense says it’s a bad idea to assemble various models of Ashok Leyland Stallion trucks at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur. Here are the below points:-
1. What does Vehicle Factory Jabalpur do?
1. What if a tank breaks down in Ladakh or Sikkim?

• As it is known to distance between Ladakh or Sikkim and Avadi, Tamil Nadu is over 2000 km at the very least. So if a tank breaks down and can't be repaired at the spot, then it’s a nightmare situation. The tank has to be hauled up trawlers and be sent back by train all the way to Avadi, Tamil Nadu to get it back into a running condition which may take months and not to forget crores of taxpayers' money spent on it.
• 2. So what is the problem?
• The problem is when a tank breaks down and can't be repaired at the spot and is sent over 2000 km to Avadi, Tamil Nadu to be repaired, it affects defense preparedness due to its longer turnaround time for a tank, not to mention the availability of trains on time, not just that but also incurred are extra transportation cost, fuel cost, man hours cost.
• 
  
• 3. So what is the benefit?
• While manufacturing of tanks can and should continue at Avadi, Tamil Nadu, the Tank MRO facility should be set up at the place where Ashok Leyland Stallion trucks are currently assembled at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The benefits are numerous, the main among them are:-
• a. If tank MRO is done at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh it saves a lot of taxpayers money in terms of transportation cost, fuel cost, and man-hours cost.
• b. As tanks will have to cover less than half of the distance when going to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh as against what they have to cover now to go to Avadi, Tamil Nadu it will result in a faster turnaround time for tanks.
• c. Faster turnaround time for tanks means quicker redeployment in frontline areas, as travel time is cut by half.
• d. Quicker redeployment of tanks in frontline areas boosts defense preparedness.

RBT's Defense Blog

This blog talks about defense, strategy, economics, conflicts that may have affect on India in one way or another

rbt-defense.blogspot.com

 

[Gessler]

MoD Initiates Procurement Process for Another Batch of 100 K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzers

Indian Army K-9T 'Vajra' SPH in Ladakh​

The Indian Army has initiated the purchase of a fresh batch of 155mm/ 52 calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer K9 Vajra-T. It is learnt that the repeat order is making progress under the procurement process. The order is under evaluation which is the norm under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.

The Indian army is looking for 100 K9 Vajra-T, with a maximum range of 38 kilometres.

K-9 Vajra, a 155mm/52 Calibre howitzer, is a type of artillery gun that can fire shells at great elevation angles to hit targets far away. K-9 Vajra which is based on South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace’s K-9 Thunder is jointly built by Indian private-sector defence entity L&T.

So far, L&T has already delivered 100 K-9 Vajra to the Indian army.

The K9 VAJRA-T is capable of handling both Indian and NATO standard ammunition as it has demonstrated. As the reports suggest, the new K9 Vajra-T will be upgraded for high-altitude areas for the long mountainous border with both Pakistan and China, just as done with the first batch.

https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-mod-initiates-the-procurement-process-for-another-set-of-nbspk-9-vajra-howitzers-3145237/

 

[Nilgiri]

MoD Initiates Procurement Process for Another Batch of 100 K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzers

View attachment 58957
Indian Army K-9T 'Vajra' SPH in Ladakh​

The Indian Army has initiated the purchase of a fresh batch of 155mm/ 52 calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer K9 Vajra-T. It is learnt that the repeat order is making progress under the procurement process. The order is under evaluation which is the norm under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.

The Indian army is looking for 100 K9 Vajra-T, with a maximum range of 38 kilometres.

K-9 Vajra, a 155mm/52 Calibre howitzer, is a type of artillery gun that can fire shells at great elevation angles to hit targets far away. K-9 Vajra which is based on South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace’s K-9 Thunder is jointly built by Indian private-sector defence entity L&T.

So far, L&T has already delivered 100 K-9 Vajra to the Indian army.

The K9 VAJRA-T is capable of handling both Indian and NATO standard ammunition as it has demonstrated. As the reports suggest, the new K9 Vajra-T will be upgraded for high-altitude areas for the long mountainous border with both Pakistan and China, just as done with the first batch.

https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-mod-initiates-the-procurement-process-for-another-set-of-nbspk-9-vajra-howitzers-3145237/

Finally, though I wish this was done completely seamlessly to not have the line go cold for this long already given the deficiency existing still. Should continually place orders, but our bureaucracy still stuck on having time gaps here.

 

[Afif]

Indian army has a huge numbers of 105mm 'Indian field gun' in service. (1700 of them if wiki numbers are to be believed)

How is IA is planning to replace them?
With a newer 105mm gun or bigger 155mm guns like ATAGS?
@Gessler @Nilgiri

 

[Nilgiri]

Indian army has a huge numbers of 105mm 'Indian field gun' in service. (1700 of them if wiki numbers are to be believed)

How is IA is planning to replace them?
With a newer 105mm gun or bigger 155mm guns like ATAGS?
@Gessler @Nilgiri

I have not come across any plans to upgun them to 155mm.

The 105mm has particular niche firepower/mobility for the mountain divisions especially....so I would assume they keep the caliber long term and update production blocks and ammo with time along with any platform update (SPG, light truck) that IA is pressing for currently.

Getting more 155mm (heavy artillery) will run separate to this....especially for divisions that need that raw firepower and mountain mobility is less of a factor.

 

[Gessler]

Indian army has a huge numbers of 105mm 'Indian field gun' in service. (1700 of them if wiki numbers are to be believed)

How is IA is planning to replace them?
With a newer 105mm gun or bigger 155mm guns like ATAGS?
@Gessler @Nilgiri

There's no official word on the 105 IFG replacement/upgrade yet.

However, private companies like Kalyani have internally developed solutions to fill that role into the future with an SPG instead, like the Garuda 105 (below). As a lot of the project leads on these programs tend to be ex-Army members, it's likely that they anticipate a requirement for such a piece of equipment (105mm 4x4 SPG) to emerge. Time will tell.

 

[Afif]

There's no official word on the 105 IFG replacement/upgrade yet.

However, private companies like Kalyani have internally developed solutions to fill that role into the future with an SPG instead, like the Garuda 105 (below). As a lot of the project leads on these programs tend to be ex-Army members, it's likely that they anticipate a requirement for such a piece of equipment (105mm 4x4 SPG) to emerge. Time will tell.

I am asking because I read somewhere Indian army standardized 155mm for howtizers.
So, I guess my question is, will there be any 105mm gun at all in the future?

 

[Gessler]

I am asking because I read somewhere Indian army standardized 155mm for howtizers.
So, I guess my question is, will there be any 105mm gun at all in the future?

Like I said, no official word on it. I think it's kind of like how the IA was undecided regarding which way to go for Prithvi-2 replacement (SRBM or TBM) before finally deciding on SRBM (Pralay). I think right now they are internally debating as to whether a 155mm SPG capability can be reliably delivered by a vehicle with small footprint like 4x4 which would be highly advantageous in the mountains. Some solutions for that already exist (like Kalyani MaRG-155, which was recently also sold to Armenia) but the IA still hasn't made a call.

I think it will eventually come down to whether they think the costs of standardizing on 155mm rounds is worth it OR if a high-low approach (wherein cheaper 105mm rounds fill the low-end/low-range requirements) can still be effective. Again, time will tell which way they go.

 

[Afif]

Indian Army to Extend Service of 105 mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) until 2040 – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

@Nilgiri @Gessler

 

[Nilgiri]

Indian Army to Extend Service of 105 mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) until 2040 – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

@Nilgiri @Gessler

I always wait to hear it from sources outside of IDRW. Let's see.

 

[Afif]

Just a moment…

@Gessler Which one is this TGS?

 

[Marlii]

So most likely ATAGS orders are gonna be cut at the 307 mark and the new TGS which will form the majority of artillery in the towed section.Most likely it's gonna be the Israeli ATHOS.Their is another MGS tender for 800 or so guns and I hope they don't go for ATMOS on that one

 

[Afif]

I can't believe they are ditching gorgeous ATAGS for foreign stuff. Is this one of those Adani thing Or genuine army decision?

 

[Zapper]

I can't believe they are ditching gorgeous ATAGS for foreign stuff. Is this one of those Adani thing Or genuine army decision?

There's nothing called a "genuine army decision" when it comes to the Indian military where they're all in favor of foreign maal for kickbacks and Israeli/Russian kitty

 

[Gessler]

Just a moment…

@Gessler Which one is this TGS?

As of now it's a definition, not a product.

Could end up being the Bharat-52 for all we know.