The Indian Military on Sunday put up an imposing firepower show on the sprawling area firing vary in Maharashtra’s Devlali, with a raft of indigenous artillery weapons, rocket techniques and ammunition, together with weapons, deployed alongside the contested Line of Precise Management (LAC) the place the Indian and Chinese language armies have been locked in a lingering dispute for over 32 months.
The blockbuster demonstration of the military’s capabilities, code-named ‘Train Topchi-2023’, by the elite Faculty of Artillery featured a number of massive weapons, together with the newest 155mm/45-calibre Dhanush towed artillery gun, 155mm/52-calibre tracked self-propelled K9 Vajra-T weapons, the M777 ultra-light howitzers, upgraded Sharang weapons, the 105mm/37-caliber Indian area weapons and the sunshine area gun, and the Pinaka rocket techniques (155mm denotes the diameter of the shell and calibre pertains to barrel size). HT was invited to witness the present.
The main target of the train was to showcase the indigenous capabilities and strides made in reaching self-reliance within the defence sector, mentioned Lieutenant Normal S Harimohan Iyer, commandant of the Devlali-based Faculty of Artillery. “Atmanirbharta in defence is scaling new heights. The military is prepared for any problem,” he mentioned.
The 2-hour show additionally included the 155 mm FH 77 BO2 weapons (higher generally known as Bofors), the 155mm Soltam weapons, the 130mm M46 weapons, the Russian-origin Grad BM 21 multi-barrel rocket system, unmanned aerial autos, weapon finding radars, mortars, helicopters and several other surveillance techniques. The drills got here at a time when the military is pursuing a significant firepower improve, and is about to induct extra artillery weapons, longer vary rockets and loitering munition to bolster its capabilities alongside the China border.
The artillery functionality improve will contain induction of extra K9 Vajra-T weapons, further Dhanush weapons and the brand new 155mm/52-calibre superior towed artillery gun system (ATAGS), Iyer mentioned. Artillery regiments are additionally making ready to induct longer vary Pinaka rocket techniques, precision ammunition, loitering munition, unmanned aerial autos, and reconnaissance and commentary techniques to scale up their capabilities to satisfy battlefield challenges.
Right here’s a low-down on the weapons that had been deployed within the train:
Dhanush towed artillery weapons: The gun made its maiden look on the Republic Day parade in 2017. Manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Manufacturing unit, its prices ₹14.50 crore apiece, and has a variety of 38 km. The weapon, often known as the desi Bofors, is the primary long-range artillery gun to be manufactured in India and is touted as a ‘Make in India’ success story. The military has already operationalised its first Dhanush regiment alongside the China border, and is now taking a look at elevating a second regiment with 18 weapons by March 2023.
K9 Vajra-T weapons: The weapons have been manufactured in India by non-public sector defence main Larsen & Toubro and South Korea’s Hanwha Techwin. The military has already inducted 100 of those underneath a 2017 contract price $720 million, and a few of them have been deployed within the Ladakh sector after winterisation upgrades because the weapons had been initially purchased for a desert function. The military plans to purchase 100 extra K9 Vajra-T weapons.
M777 ultra-light howitzers: India ordered 145 M777 howitzers from the US for $750 million in November 2016. The M777s had been the primary artillery weapons to be ordered after the Bofors scandal unfolded within the late Nineteen Eighties. The 155 mm/39-calibre howitzers might be sling-loaded to helicopters and swiftly deployed to high-altitude areas. M777 producer BAE Techniques delivered 25 ready-built howitzers and the remaining weapons have been constructed domestically in collaboration with Mahindra Defence underneath the Narendra Modi authorities’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Sharang weapons: The upgraded Sharang artillery weapons are an essential component of the continued artillery modernisation. The military already has three Sharang regiments, it’s elevating a fourth one, and finally plans to have 15 such regiments. The Sharang challenge entails upgrading the military’s classic Soviet-origin 130mm M46 towed artillery items to 155 mm/45-calibre customary. The upgraded weapons have an enhanced vary – up from 27 km to 37 km – and higher terminal effectiveness.
What’s subsequent: The military is taking a look at inducting ATAGS by the year-end. The indigenous howitzer was deployed for the ceremonial 21-gun salute through the seventy fifth Independence Day celebrations at Purple Fort final yr, together with British weapons which have been historically used for the occasion. The Defence Analysis and Growth Organisation started the ATAGS challenge in 2013 to exchange older military weapons with a contemporary 155 mm artillery gun. It partnered with two non-public corporations, Bharat Forge Restricted and Tata Superior Techniques Restricted, to fabricate the gun, which has a variety of 48 km.
