Ghost of Bofors exorcised as Indian Army finally gets new guns

In a boost to the Army's firepower and capability enhancement, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday inducted three major artillery gun systems, including the M777 A2 Ultra Light Howitzers, K-9 Vajra self-propelled gun and a 'Composite Gun Towing Vehicle'.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, held at Deolali Field Firing Ranges, the minister said many more such systems would be inducted in the Army in the next few years.

"These guns are being inducted almost 30 years after the Bofors guns were inducted," Sitharaman said.

Minister of State for Defence, Subhash Bhamre, Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat and former Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor were present.

The 155mm, 39 calibre Ultra light Howitzers have been procured from USA under Government to Government Foreign Military Sales and will be assembled in India by BAE Systems in partnership with Mahindra Defence.

32 years after the Bofors scandal broke, that put a stop to all artillery inductions, the Indian Army today finally received he three BAE Systems M7777A2 ultra-light howitzers and ten K9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzer guns at Deolali, Maharashtra.

The new artillery housing the new guns will be raised next year and the handover is part of Army’s modernisation programme.

Several attempts to test and buy new artillery fell since Bofors, the country’s most well-known arms scandal which led to the ousting of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.

One person who was singled out for credit was former Defence Minister Parrikar.

Former Defence Minister Parrikar had said in 2015:: “Bofors is a good gun... (I) don't think the quality of the product and corruption are synonymous.”  He pointed to how the 155 MM field Howitzers purchased from Swedish manufacturer Bofors AB had proved useful in the Kargil war.

He had also pointed to how the Indian artillery had not been able to purchase guns for around 31 years because of the controversy. Quattrocchi, who died in 2013, was known for his proximity to the Gandhi family.

What we know about the guns

The gun system is versatile, light weight and can be heli-lifted, thereby providing the much needed flexibility in deployment in various terrains. It is in service in the US, Canadian, Australian and some other armies and has proven its mettle in difficult areas of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The first ten K9 Vajra 155mm/52 calibre guns have been imported from Hanwha Techwin of South Korea in semi knocked down state and have been assembled by L&T in India.

The remaining 90 guns will be largely manufactured in India with some major assemblies coming from South Korea, the minister said.

Their induction will give a "huge fillip" to the firepower capability of Indian Army on our western borders, she said.

The 6x6 Field Artillery Tractor has been indigenously developed by Ashok Leyland and will provide the much awaited replacement for the ageing fleet of artillery gun towing vehicles.

The induction of the gun systems also gives a major impetus to Make In India initiative of the government, the minister said.

The procurement process for the equipment was initiated in 2006 during the Congress regime but didn't advance further, the minister said. "In contrast, our government shrunk the process in last four years not only initiated the procurement process but ensure induction," she added.

An impressive display of equipment and a firepower demo by the guns of the indian artillery was held on the occasion.

Indigenous gun systems/surveillance and target acquisition systems ecently introduced in service were also on display.