More power to fire Force India Oct 17

More power to fire Force India Oct 17

With the arrival from the US of the first two M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, the Bofors ghost has finally been laid to rest. The Indian Artillery had been crying hoarse for modernization over the decades, but the ghost kept raising its ugly head, the UPA government continued reacting and Anthony, as the defence minister, was compelled to turn down all proposals. The Indian artillery firepower remained weak and limited in range, equipment outdated and choice of projectiles restricted. It was very evident during the Kargil conflict, when the army was compelled to induct Bofors from other sectors, solely to support the operation.

In the mountains, there are few Bofors regiments and the balance are the indigenous 105mm guns with a limited range of 17 to 18 kms with restrictions of firing at higher angles of elevations. There were similar problems in the plains as the 130 mm Russian guns had outlived their life, but had to be retained or modified on an adhoc basis with Israeli support as SOLTAMS, as options never existed. Self-propelled (SP) guns to provide support to armoured formations were outdated and almost non-existent.

Artillery has always been termed as the ‘Queen of the battle field’ and is a battle winning factor. Its employment philosophy has been changing over the decades. Initially it was providing fire support for operations by infantry and armour but is presently destruction of the enemy’s combat potential and degradation of his defences. The concept involves employing preponderance of artillery firepower to ensure success. Thus, there is a requirement of long ranges, higher calibre weapons delivering greater TNT content with deadly accuracy and the availability of a multitude of ammunition choices to engage a variety of targets.

Further, to reduce logistical nightmares of a large variety of ammunition, due to multitude of gun systems, a single calibre gun, using commonality of ammunition is essential. Hence the Indian artillery desperately wanted to upgrade to the 155-gun systems but their demands remained ignored. To some extent, the initial causes of delay in modernization was within the service itself. For a few years, there was an internal battle as to which calibre would be best suited. This debate and the Bofors ghost ensured that no guns were even considered for induction. The UPA did issue tenders for a host of artillery equipment in 2012, but claims of bribery resulted in tenders being cancelled, with the wheeled SP gun contract being terminated, post the trials.

In the present environment, where the Line of Control (LoC) is active in J and K, the ability to fire accurately at long ranges can turn tables, in case of increased ceasefire violations. The quantum of damage impacted by heavy shells destroying their terrorist camps, defences and logistic bases can impact morale. With precision means available for acquiring targets, delivery of accurate fire assaults would change the scenario. On the Chinese front, with strong Indian defensive deployment on the watershed, long range guns alongside missiles can be a major deterrent to any misadventures.

The present concept of converting the Indian artillery to a common 155 group of guns, varying in weight, manoeuvrability and capability of the equipment based on specific terrain requirements, nature of operation, indigenization of ammunition and local manufacture has major advantages. Thus, all guns now in the process of induction are being test fired with the Indian manufactured 155 ammunition systems.

While guns were being ignored for induction, other systems began seeing the light of day. Pinaca and Smerch missile systems were added, giving some respite to the artillery in terms of engaging at longer ranges and SWATI, the indigenous weapon locating radar was introduced. SWATI has proved its mettle already along the LoC. UAVs were also inducted enhancing surveillance capabilities.

The artillery is now witnessing a spurt of inductions with the arrival of M777, trials of the Dhanush, the home developed 155mm version of the Bofors, the ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) and orders for hundred K 9 Vajra tracked SP Gun systems. These have changed the artillery landscape for the future. The other major missile systems including the Brahmos and Prithvi, remain strategic weapons, employment of whose would be cleared at different levels.

All the guns now being trial tested would be part of ‘make in India or made in India’. The induction of new technology would give a boost to the Indian defence industry. The ATAGS, the gun which has set a world record in its trials, by reaching a range of 48 kms with specialized Base Bleed Unit (BBU) ammunition, is being developed completely inhouse by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with private sector units including Bharat Forge, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Mahindra Defence Naval Systems.

The Dhanush, the Indian version of the Bofors, based on the original designs given by the company, is being developed by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Twenty-five pieces of the M777 Howitzer would be delivered by the company in ready to use condition and the rest would be manufactured in India by Mahindra Defence. L and T would manufacture and supply hundred units of the K9 SP guns. Thus, India would also become a hub for export of spares and in the years ahead of artillery equipment.

India always conducts detailed trials on all equipment which it inducts into service. Artillery guns are tested in extreme weather conditions and in each nature of terrain where it is expected to operate. Post each trial, if the profile of the equipment is found suitable, then recommendations are made to the supplier for minor modifications to suit Indian conditions. The reason for detailed trials are few. The gun once inducted would remain in service for decades, the Bofors were inducted in 1987 and are still the mainstay of the artillery, post thirty years. In addition, the cost of each equipment is immense, hence selecting the wrong piece would lead to loss of limited defence budget. Thus, artillery trials are serious business and conducted by a combined team of scientists and artillery personnel.

There are always adverse incidents during any trials, for a variety of reasons. These incidents make headlines in the media and there are calls for discarding the system. Most of these demands are by so-called experts or rival business houses. Accidents should not be considered as a failure of the equipment, but investigated and actions adopted to rectify fault lines for the future, if the equipment meets other parameters.

Two recent incidents would bear testimony to the issue. Firstly, during the last phase of the trials of Dhanush, a round hit the muzzle break, resulting in a damaged gun. Secondly, a barrel burst during the technical firing of the M777 howitzer. These are not setbacks, as is being projected in the press, but incidents which need to be probed and actions taken to rectify. Accidents always occur during training or firing during operations. While operational incidents may be ignored, each training incident is investigated and action adopted to prevent recurrence.

The barrel incident in the Dhanush as claimed by the DRDO was due to poor quality muzzle brakes, wrongly imported from China, by a contractor, whom they have taken to task. It can be rectified, fresh correct quality muzzle brakes imported or locally designed and the gun re-sent for limited trials. It should not be a reason to reject the gun in totality, after all it is designed in India and can be regularly modified to suit user requirements.

The M777, is a gun which has seen action in almost all theatres where the US has participated in operations, including Iraq. The causes of the barrel incident are being investigated. It could be due to faulty metallurgy (highly improbable as it is made of titanium and has been firing for years), residue in the bore (possibly less changes) or faulty ammunition (most probable). The ammunition being fired was manufactured by Indian ordnance factories. Again, investigation would determine the cause and actions could be initiated for rectifying the defect.

Most accidents are the result of faulty ammunition. The fuse of the shell has multiple minute parts, any of which can malfunction in the bore of the gun. The priority for the government is to establish modern factories with fool proof manufacturing and quality control facilities. Ammunition failures can be minimized only if quality control is correctly implemented.

The Indian artillery has come a long way since the first unit was raised in 1827. Complete induction of the 155-gun systems would take a few years, but the artillery is well on its way to becoming a source of firepower to deter misadventures. There are always hiccups when modern war fighting equipment is put through rigorous trials. These hiccups should never be considered as a failure of the equipment, but a stepping stone to better improvement. To simply reject an equipment due to an odd failure is to set back the system by decades, especially if it is indigenous, but to encourage it, will ensure better quality in the years ahead.