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India to Expedite ULH Buy

: Dec 30, 2013 - : 7:58 am

India is expediting the stalled process of acquiring 145 Ultra Light Howitzer (ULH) artillery guns for the Army, which is facing a severe crunch of such a weapon platform.
Discounting any more delays, senior defense ministry official says,”The government has not held up the purchase of 145 ULH artillery guns from the United States.”
The government is proposing the procurement of the Ultra Unit Howitzers through the foreign military sale route as per the country’s defense procurement procedure, he says.
Last August, the U.S. Department of Defense had notified the Congress of a possible sale of 145 state-of-the-art 155mm towed Howitzers to India. The estimated cost of the deal is $885 million, which also includes providing associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
The Indian government had requested a possible sale of 145 M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS), warranty, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment.
India’s Defense Acquisition Council cleared the purchase in May 2012 following a comprehensive evaluation.
“The upgradation/modernization of the artillery is being undertaken as per road map laid down in Artillery Profile 2027, which envisages induction of long range guns and rockets with adequate firepower for the mountain regions,” the Indian defense ministry official adds.
The Indian army has not bought modern artillery since the 1980s, when a bribery scandal erupted involving Swedish armament firm Bofors. The company was accused of paying kickbacks to secure the gun deal, resulting in the ouster of then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from office in 1989.
Since then, the army has not been able to induct even a single piece of new artillery.
India’s desire to purchase the Howitzers has been mired in procedural infirmities.
In the late 2012, India had canceled a request for proposal to buy 180 howitzer artillery guns for the third time in 10 years as both the firms participating in the tender were not able to meet the parameters.
The first RFP for the 155 mm/.52-caliber, self-propelled, wheeled guns for the Indian army was issued in 2002. Five firms responded, but only one company could qualify for the technical evaluation. The RFP was then retracted, due to procedural infirmities.
A RFP was issued for a second time in February 2007 to 29 firms, but only two responded. After one offer was rejected due to a procedural deficiency, it left only a single vendor in the competition. The RFP was issued for a third time in February 2008, but neither of the two responding firms could meet the parameters.
The principal contractors will be BAE of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Watervliet Arsenal of Watervliet, New York; Seiler Instrument Company of St.
Louis, Missouri; Triumph Actuation Systems of Bloomfield, Connecticut; Taylor Devices of North Tonawanda, New York; Hutchinson Industries of Trenton, New Jersey; and Selex, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
“In accordance with the Indian Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP), it is anticipated that the vendor will be required to negotiate an offset contract with the government of India,” the official says.
The Indian army has been eying a $4 billion modernization plan, including
400 towed-howitzers, 180 self-propelled ones and 145 ultralight versions, through intergovernmental deals and global tenders.
The M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers made its debut in the war in Afghanistan. In addition to the United States Army, it is also used by the Australian and Canadian armies. Saudi Arabia has also recently ordered for
M777 Howitzers.
The self-propelled M777 can deliver as many as five shells per minute to around 15 miles with unassisted rounds and more than 18 miles with rocket-assisted rounds.

 

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