22 years on, Indian Army's local artillery plan still in works

New Delhi, September 27

Twenty two years after the Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan was drawn up, the guns available from local sources are still not meeting the set parameters.

Prepared after the Kargil conflict (May-July 1999), the plan was aimed at acquiring some 3,000 guns of 155 mm/52-calibre of all kinds by 2027. The projection included 814 truck-mounted guns, 1,580 towed guns, 100 tracked self-propelled guns, 180 wheeled self-propelled guns and 145 ultra-light howitzers.

Lt Gen TK Chawla, Director General, Artillery, spoke to the media on the eve of the Gunners’ Day, which marks the anniversary of the raising of the first Indian Mountain Battery. “There are a few teething issues which will be ironed out. It is good work in progress,” he said. — TNS

Need to modify

• Drawn up post Kargil, the plan was to acquire 3,000 local guns by 2027
• Lt Gen TK Chawla, Director Gen, Artillery, says the guns failed on some parameters
• DRDO asked for further modification of these guns
• Of 114 Dhanush guns ordered in 2019, only 12 have been delivered