Artillery: News & Discussion

[Karan M]

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · May 3

Let's see how the C-17 'global sustainment' program turns out. We'll soon also know from CAG just how much the Air force will pay for that.

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · May 3

Why? Zimple, that particular radar is no longer in production and nobody for the love of the ****** will give you spares for only 12 radars.

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · May 3

To remind people about serviceability, the ANTPQ-37 WLRs ordered by the Army from America are currently inoperational on account of spares.

This is in-credibly bizarre. Cant the IA do a large volume, multi year buy for spares to raise the EOQ for the supplier?

[Singha]

well I guess most of capex has gone into the T90 over the last few years! and now akash.

no artillery for sure. no new small arms. grudging bones for arjun. no IFVs.

[Karan M]

Basically UPA had a nice strategy. Cut funds & watch the capabilities wither. Somehow a few big ticket local items got through - Pinaka, Akash, but peanuts compared to the overall spend on recurring items like Tatra and who knows what else most of which didn't work as planned whether it be Smerch or Krasnapol or Tatra or Bumar ARVs. I am willing to bet big money was made by some worthies in UPA/IA through the T-90 and other deals. VKS put a stop and wouldn't play along on Tatra so was targeted.

[Singha]

UPA seems to have taken dictation from foreign capitals to specially target the artillery because good artillery is the key to any punitive moves.

[Karan M]

Exactly Singha.. any terror attack would have been met with a tough arty response.. it was clearly a well planned out plan to keep the IA weak & defanged. When an aggressive chief came in, he was removed as well. One day I hope MMS & his fellow jerks are all held accountable for the crimes they committed.

[srai]

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · May 3

Let's see how the C-17 'global sustainment' program turns out. We'll soon also know from CAG just how much the Air force will pay for that.

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · May 3

Why? Zimple, that particular radar is no longer in production and nobody for the love of the ****** will give you spares for only 12 radars.

Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · May 3

To remind people about serviceability, the ANTPQ-37 WLRs ordered by the Army from America are currently inoperational on account of spares.

This is in-credibly bizarre. Cant the IA do a large volume, multi year buy for spares to raise the EOQ for the supplier?

The IA, historically speaking, has this tendency of making irregular purchases of spare parts in small quantities. They don't seem to look at it from a complete lifecycle support for x-years point of view, which would be more effective for arranging appropriate inventory and support for the life of the product. Apart from keeping costs low and higher serviceability rates , it would help MSEs recoup their investments better. I have read a few articles where MSEs have complained about the IA ordering only a small batch and then no orders for several years. The IA expects them to keep their tooling/machinery around (even if idle). It doesn't make business sense.

[Karan M]

Srai, IA does that to conserve its budgetary allocations and get best current bang for its (limited) buck; short term optimization.
If properly funded, a lot of this mentality will change.

[vasu raya]

kvraghavaiah, that SDB picture was in support of a theme called "be ahead of the customer", when phoren origin weapons are so much preferred by the armed forces, you want to bridge the gap where you can, and within DRDO there should be an analysis of the world wide trends in weapon development across the spectrum. Actually the LTPP? is such a long term initiative, not sure if it is any different than a 5 year plan when it comes to execution.

They already have Gruthma, the glide bomb and the rocket booster in the form of Pinaka, so in terms of foundational tech they are already there, why not the next level of integration? when its already proven elsewhere, the test date of Feb 12 2015 for the ground launched SDB says that you will close the gap soon vs. being 10 years behind in some other tech areas.

While Chinese go after even classified info through hacking, one would be happy if DRDO hacks the armed forces servers that host the detailed brochures from foreign vendors to know whats crossing their mind, just to keep it more focused than a world tour.<sarcasm>

[Yagnasri]

Good idea. hack the websites for brochures.

[member_22539]

^+1 Indeed

[VibhavS]

Good idea. hack the websites for brochures.

Why hack Sir. All you have to do is hit the download button and give fake personal data If required to provide a contact.

[Singha]

nobody facing the kind of threats we do , would settle for 400 dhanush now and wait for the uber 52 cal in atleast another 7 yrs minimum.

by that time someone like Oto would have ported existing naval tech for a 155/55 or god forbid the 155/62 that would throw arty directorate into a unhandled exception and infinite loop of making the atags jump through 500 new hoops.

155/45 will cover the vast bulk of our needs because its not as if we have a over abundance of mech corps running around in open desert needing very deep fires by supporting artillery.

[VibhavS]

Well Dhanush would be a start right, for an Army systematically starved of even basic requirements. To go up against Chipanda, we would need an SPH system, they would out-number us in artillery and would also have Fire Finder Radar support. We would need the flexibility and survivability of an SPH rather than an ATGS. Which would be targeted in the opening salvos.

Towed guns will have trouble surviving in a full blown war.

[Singha]

the border roads can barely take a towed gun let alone a meaty arjun sized SPH.
nothing can move cross country in the mountains so the whole mobility of SPH is moot in such limited roads
people hide guns in caves , pits and reverse slopes and hope for best.

[VibhavS]

What about a system like Caesar (17.7 tons) or Archer (30 tons) or ATMOS? Those are not much heavier than a truck and towed gun (with the exception of Archer) and could be used in the mountains. Secondly the towed gun has troubles due to the turning radius of the weapon attached to the truck than just weight right?

I am not calling for importing these systems I am talking about utilizing Tata/Kalyani/L&T to create a solution in India based on the Dhanush or even the Kalyani Gun. I am sure it is within our engineering capability to do that? It may not be the best solution or even the most elegant, but it is a workable solution.

[member_22539]

^Thats why we have a requirement for 814 mounted gun systems. Basically guns on the back of trucks.

[nash]

Make in India: Tata, Mahindra and Larsen & Toubro in race to partner gunmaker BAE for howitzers

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/art ... aign=cppst

The government will soon take a call on a fresh army proposal on acquiring BAE's M777 Howitzer after the American company offered to shift the manufacturing and testing facility from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to India. The deal size is around $700 million.

BAE has now offered to set up an assembly, integration and testing facility with the help of an Indian partner; and is looking at a potential investment of over $200 million. BAE's offer includes not only manufacturing for the army but also shifting its export orders that come from the Middle East, South America and Europe

[Gyan]

And some IAF officers in Bison squadrons don't know Jaguar has Elta radar or Griffin LGB. Clearly, they dont have as much foresight and desire as you and all of the armchair generals on BRF and should be replaced en masse. Seriously, as long as the Agni guy gets his particular job done, nobody gives a darn whether he knows or doesn't know what Janes or BRF says.

The type of knowledge and information soldiers have is sometimes very different than Defense academics/scientists/engineers and even amateurs. For instance, hardly any soldier will know the exact length of barrel or muzzle velocity of INSAS rifle but they can dismantle & reassemble the rifle blind fold!

[Gyan]

BAE M777 is just a simpler and outdated version of DRDO ATAGS which is automated Titanium 155mm/52 caliber Howitzer. Hence no need for M777, just let DRDO develop a ULH version of ATAGS.

[durairaaj]

Make in India: Tata, Mahindra and Larsen & Toubro in race to partner gunmaker BAE for howitzers

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/art ... aign=cppst

The government will soon take a call on a fresh army proposal on acquiring BAE's M777 Howitzer after the American company offered to shift the manufacturing and testing facility from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to India. ...
BAE's offer includes not only manufacturing for the army but also shifting its export orders that come from the Middle East, South America and Europe

I don't like this deal.
Putting my CT hat on.
I see it as a way to export the titanium metal out of India. Extraction of Ti is energy intensive and polluting.
By making this deal as "Make in India" they want to extract Ti as metal for artillery barrels and export it out.
Later on after the artillery's life is over it can be used for missiles, aeroplanes and spaceships components.
I don't like this deal. While the american company will reap all the licensing $ without loosing a single ounce of Ti or facing pollution related expenses.
CT hat off.

[Karan M]

And some IAF officers in Bison squadrons don't know Jaguar has Elta radar or Griffin LGB. Clearly, they dont have as much foresight and desire as you and all of the armchair generals on BRF and should be replaced en masse. Seriously, as long as the Agni guy gets his particular job done, nobody gives a darn whether he knows or doesn't know what Janes or BRF says.

The type of knowledge and information soldiers have is sometimes very different than Defense academics/scientists/engineers and even amateurs. For instance, hardly any soldier will know the exact length of barrel or muzzle velocity of INSAS rifle but they can dismantle & reassemble the rifle blind fold!

Specialization and focused interests are a fact of life. DRDO has a program by which scientists can change labs, domains etc. But most will remain in their specific area of focus. Its bizarre to post as the other guy did, bragging that he/we know more about superficial details across the topic. Real expertise lies in knowing the one topic really well.

[rkhanna]

I see it as a way to export the titanium metal out of India. Extraction of Ti is energy intensive and polluting.
By making this deal as "Make in India" they want to extract Ti as metal for artillery barrels and export it out.
Later on after the artillery's life is over it can be used for missiles, aeroplanes and spaceships components.
I don't like this deal. While the american company will reap all the licensing $ without loosing a single ounce of Ti or facing pollution related expenses.

Sir - let me try and break it down

1. There is very real need for domestic consumption so Internal consumption will definitely take place.

2. Exporting Weapons (irrespective of who holds the IP) is a net gain to the economy and defence industry specially as a part of the AMC will also be directed our way. Also dont forget R&D for upgrades, etc may also trickle down to India.

3. Titanium is a commodity - How much reserves do we have? If our Internal needs are being met why cant we export the commodity - which it is. nothing more nothing less.

If you are worried that parts of our tech will be used for something else we should not export anything. Guidance systems from Brahmos can be used for something else, etc etc

[durairaaj]

^ I agree to all of the above points with no comments. There are tradeoffs, hope it works out good.

[Thakur_B]

The type of knowledge and information soldiers have is sometimes very different than Defense academics/scientists/engineers and even amateurs. For instance, hardly any soldier will know the exact length of barrel or muzzle velocity of INSAS rifle but they can dismantle & reassemble the rifle blind fold!

Do it enough times with the drill instructor screaming in your ears and you too might be able to do it.

BAE M777 is just a simpler and outdated version of DRDO ATAGS which is automated Titanium 155mm/52 caliber Howitzer. Hence no need for M777, just let DRDO develop a ULH version of ATAGS.

The only real competitor to M-777 was Pegasus by ST Kinetics who got blacklisted. Those placing their hopes on Kalyani's ultra light shouldn't be placing too much of them because the Mandus group is working with soft recoil technology, which though impressive hasn't been very successful.

[deejay]

The type of knowledge and information soldiers have is sometimes very different than Defense academics/scientists/engineers and even amateurs. For instance, hardly any soldier will know the exact length of barrel or muzzle velocity of INSAS rifle but they can dismantle & reassemble the rifle blind fold!

Do it enough times with the drill instructor screaming in your ears and you too might be able to do it.

Seriously You made me remember - "I love my rifle"

[putnanja]

Wasn't there a news item sometime back that the barrel's tech cannot be imported for M777(US govt restriction?), so it has to be imported in full for assembly here?

[Singha]

those kind of clauses will always be there regardless of claims that assembly line will be moved.
assembly line moving does not mean subsystem all suppliers will move.

[Karan M]

3. Titanium is a commodity - How much reserves do we have? If our Internal needs are being met why cant we export the commodity - which it is. nothing more nothing less.

OT but almost everything is a commodity till you start running out of it. Then it becomes a scarce resource and the strategic stockpiling stuff starts.

[Singha]

the titantium parts were made by a part of Alcoa named howmet in michigan and ohio
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?Articl ... Production

now you tell me if they will be relocating to pune

see their customer list - its a whos who of the big boys https://www.alcoa.com/howmet/en/info_pa ... i-Cast.pdf
even samsung for all of Soko's strength in steel industry buys from them/ i have no doubt even their SP gun in our race has alcoa howmet parts in it.

khan chacha is second to none in high precision high cost metal working and use of exotic materials.

[Austin]

Defence ministry to seek DAC’s permission to buy M-777 guns

[Gyan]

BAE has only offered assembly in India with ZERO manufactering. Go screwdrivergiri!

[ArmenT]

3. Titanium is a commodity - How much reserves do we have? If our Internal needs are being met why cant we export the commodity - which it is. nothing more nothing less.

OT but almost everything is a commodity till you start running out of it. Then it becomes a scarce resource and the strategic stockpiling stuff starts.

Interesting thing about titanium is that it is a fairly commonly occurring element (7th most common metal and 9th most common element on earth) and occurs in many minerals. The only trouble is that extracting the titanium is only commercially viable from a few minerals and finding large concentrated deposits of these are relatively rare. Research is still happening to find better processes to extract it.

[Karan M]

India managed to get a titanium processing plant running last year IIRC for making its own stuff. Per se, I'd rather we imported and saved our own reserves for everything, but then it becomes so cost prohibitive that the strategic value becomes questionable (money saved could be used for many other high value activities). Thats actually the crux of the current Govts ire with Green Peace, Ford Foundation and many other such organizations which the GOI believes are a cats paw for vested interests which block mineral development/extraction in India so as to force India into costly imports. Another interesting thing is that post the Ukrainian crisis and the US vs Russia throwdown (sanctions and what not), US is said to have started stockpiling Titanium per media (VDM?) reports. Looks like Russia remains a top dawg in that field.

[partha]

Another interesting thing is that post the Ukrainian crisis and the US vs Russia throwdown (sanctions and what not), US is said to have started stockpiling Titanium per media (VDM?) reports. Looks like Russia remains a top dawg in that field.

I remember reading in a book how CIA setup a complex web of front companies to import titanium from USSR for Lockheed's Blackbird SR71 plane at the height of cold war to be used against USSR.

[Prasad]

DAC clears M777 purchase.

Word on Twitter is that the kalyani light gun is almost ready for approval. Do we need more light guns than the M777 ones we're getting. Local vs foreign is of course a no brainer.

[Cosmo_R]

A little artillery levity is in order:

How not to move an artillery piece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... truck.html

[Singha]

to me the only virtue of the M777 seems to be its light weight. other than it needs a very large crew of troops like 10 to service it during firing....a truck mounted system like the mighty Archer outguns and outranges it by miles . with manual loading, it is unlikely to be able to participate in intimidating co-ordinated multi regiment MRSI attacks where 10s of rounds drop on target area within few seconds.

[Singha]

I figure the kalyani soln would have been cheaper if they considered it. the mandus group which provided the technology maintains the M198 guns for us army.

[Karan M]

Ajai Shukla was right in that in India, Defence Minister is just Defence Acquisition Minister.
Parrikar saar has said a lot of good sounding stuff about local industry, his ability to make quick decisions and generally talked things up. Yet to see that acumen translate into significant push for local programs.

[Rakesh]

Karan: There is a saying....you campaign in poetry, but govern in prose. Reality has struck our Raksha Mantri and our Prime Minister. No fault of theirs necessarily, because they do mean well, however they are faced with a lumbering, slothful & corrupt bureaucracy and industry that for the past 68 years has always lived by the mantra Chalta Hai. We SDREs are like this onlee. Dassault had to remind us, quite embarrassingly, that they have no faith in HAL's ability to deliver a quality product.

P.S. It is not for a lack of will or technical know how (Tejas, Arjun, INSAS, our in house naval design bureau are just a few to dispel such a myth) but rather it is a mix of vested interests, lobbyists i.e. our very own Philip , and the reasons above to explain the present malaise. That combined with a healthy dose of Bofors which neutered us quite badly. We became impotent in our decision making because of Bofors. This is why we are still among the top arms importers in the world.

I have said this before and I will keep saying it. We need excellent project managers that can ruthlessly cut through red tape and people to stay on focus and achieve the goal. Bash on Regardless!