Caesar front running for Army's Truck mounted Artillery

Caesar front running for Army's Truck mounted Artillery

Indian army had a requirement of more than hundred's of truck mounted 155mm 52 cal artillery's for it's strike corps and new mountain strike corps. Under the artillery project, Army looks to induct range of artillery systems, like towed, self propelled and now this truck mounted. Like other procurement's, this truck mounted artillery too comes under make in India program.

For this project vendors from all over the world requested to provide information about the respected system to Indian army evaluation team. The French teamed with Ashok Leyland and L&T offered the Caesar System, South Africa teamed with TATA offered Denel, Serbia teamed with OFB and BMEL offered the Nora system. While BAE Archer never made any attempts. which is the known better system in truck mounted artillery.

As the performance wise Ashok Leyland and Nexter made Caesar is front running to seal the deal. Caesar is the known battle proven artillery system operated by French, Saudi and some other nations. It's a 155mm 52 Cal heavy artillery system, used to suppress the enemy firing ranges. Caesar had an automatic reloading system can holds 18 ready to fire rounds. with the firing range of upto 50km using rocket assisted projectiles or some 40 kilometers with normal shells.

The Caesar is light weight, can comes with the either 8x8 or 6x6 wheels, can also easily air lifted by the existing IAF's C 130 air lifters. The entire system, that is Truck and gun weights around some 18 tons only for 6x6 and weights around 30 tons for 8x8. The Caesar is already operationally deployed by many nations include Thailand who claimed two Cambodian BM 21's.

Caesar is one of the finest option for the Army, can be used with existing Ashok Leyland trucks. and in performance wise it's better who operationally deployed hot and cold weather conditions around the world. Can also launch guided projectiles for effective fire power. although all artillery's can fire guided rounds.

The other one who competing the deal is the South African Denel teaming with the TATA. who offering the Denel G6 for the Army's truck mounted artillery program.G 6 also a good competitor in terms of fire power and range. The G 6 is weights around 46 tons, due to it's large size and 6x6 wheel platform. Making hard stance for air transport.

G 6 can capable to strike targets upto 67 kilometers thanks to it's V LAP round. Normally it's effective firing range is upto 40 kilometers same like other system, along with auto re loader and other known modern systems like fire control and target acquisition.

G 6 can fire only 4 rounds per minute, which is low compared to it's competitors. 6-8 rounds is the known good figure for such systems. Since truck mounted artillery can perform shoot and scoot with the delay of 30 to 60 seconds. making hard to find the potion of the artillery using weapon locating radars.

G 6 already deployed by several Arab army's and the South African army. In India that gun placed in the TATA truck who unveiled the model in defense exhibition in last year.

The DPSU also teamed with the Serbians for the Truck mounted artillery project. State firms like OFB and BEML joins with Serbian state firm to produce the Nora B 52 in India. The artillery is already operational under the Bangladeshi ground forces.

Nora is also a comparable systems to other competitors, with better range fire power and integrated network systems. With better firing capability Nora can fire 6-10 rounds per minute. using normal and guided shells for effective fire power. The Nora also works with the Russian standard artillery ammunition's like Krasnopol guided shells.

The entire system weights around some 30 tons, fitted in a 8x8 platform. Nora already operational in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Kenya, Nora is a better system comes in handy price compared to others. In India Nora can be made by OFB and carried by BEML trucks.

BAE Archer is the one who is a better system compared to all the above, developed by the Swedish firm, Archer shares similar characteristic with existing Bofors and Dhanush artillery system. Archer is comes with Volvo truck. In case of Indian orders Volvo India can deliver those trucks. Despite heavy looking the Archer weights below 30 tons. with this weight Archer can be air lifted using A 400 and C 130 J.

Archer can carry 21 ready to fire shells, can be refilled with an minutes. Archer can fire and scoot within 30 seconds. Archer can fire more than 8 rounds per minute, can achieve the fire rate by using  both guided and normal shells. Archer is an best performing Truck mounted artillery. compared to others Archer costs more. Archer is already operational under Swedish, Norwegian and Croatian army's.

IA yet to conduct the field trials, however by looking the performance, as already said Ashok Leyland Caesar is the best one for Indian Army.

Indian Army BMP 2 Upgrade Program

Indian Army BMP 2 Upgrade Program

    The Hyderabad based state run ordnance factory Medak has backed a major order to upgrade one thousand operational BMP 2/2K into BMP -2M standard. The US $2 billion worth upgrade is a planned mid life upgrade program to keep the combat vehicle future ready. The upgrade will equip the vehicle with new generation automatic grenade launchers and anti tank missiles. The BMP-2 is an all weather and terrain infantry fighting vehicle which can be easily transported by air and can mount amphibious attacks. The Indian Army operates nearly 1500 BMP-2 with well over 1000 vehicles operating as assault vehicles and the rest operating as ambulances, mortar carriers, NAG equipped Anti-tank missile carriers and NBC Reconnaissance vehicle.

    The BMP was initially developed in Soviet Union and is being indigenously licence built in India by Medak ordnance factory. The BMP is a highly reliable and versatile vehicle. Equipped with 30mm main cannon and a 7.62 mm gun for secondary support the BMP is a shot in the arm for frontline forces. Most of the second generation BMP is also equipped with second generation wire guided fagot or Konkrus missiles for attacking tanks. The BMP vehicles have the unique capability of mounting amphibious assault.

    The key point in the up gradation program is enhancing the night fighting capability of the BMP vehicles. Plans for replacing the existing 260 hp engine with a more powerful 380 hp engine is adrift. The addition of a more powerful engine will allow the vehicle to operate in the harsh hilly terrains. The vehicle will also feature advanced fire control and electro-optics systems. A more powerful and newer anti tank missile will arm the vehicle after the refit. Reports of the BMP having been equipped with Kornet anti tank missiles are doing rounds. The army has been demanding the vehicle be equipped with automatic grenade launchers, so the 7.62 mm cannon may make way for 30 mm automatic grenade launchers.

   The BMP's night attack capability will be improved drastically with the addition of thermal IR imaging systems and laser range finders. The BMP will also be equipped with newer fire control system and electro optical systems. The new thermal imaging system can track targets up to 5 km and recognize the targets as far as 3 kilometres. The main fire control system can be optimized into a hot stick, meaning the gunner can choose the exact weapon to destroy the target. The target tracking computer system equipped with laser range finders help the crew have an enhanced situational awareness of the battlefield.

     The upgraded BMP will capable of firing two Kornet missiles. Enhanced fire control system helps the crew to reload the missiles at much faster rate. The BMP can also engage on the move targets. The Kornet anti tank missile comes with tandem charged high explosive anti tank warhead or thermobaric warheads, equal to 10 kg of TNT. The Tandem charges can penetrate most reactive armours presently employed by most main battle tanks. The Kornet missile uses laser beam riding for target guidance.

   The addition of 30 mm grenade launcher is a shot in the arm for Army to mount counter-terrorism operations. The Russian AGS 30 or AGS 17, 30 mm grenade launcher would be added to the vehicles during the refit. These grenades are equipped with high explosive fragmentation warhead. The vehicle can also be equipped with flash or smoke grenades. Smoke grenades are used to provide cover from enemy laser targeting.which is the BMP's primary countermeasure system 

  The OFB factory Medak still producing those BMP 2's, along with the Russian support Medak Factory will modernize the BMP's with many Russian sub systems.

  

Editor Karthik Kakoor

Army Plans to replace the INSAS rifle to Excalibur and MCIWS

Army Plans to replace the INSAS rifle to Excalibur and MCIWS

        After scrapping the billion dollar Rifle procurement, The Indian Army Plans to adopt OFB made Excalibur and MCIWS Rifles, both were different in it's kind, while the Replacement Starts within a year first phase will be the improved INSAS Excalibur, later a modified Excalibur which can fire 7.62x39mm rounds, the MCIWS can fire both 5.56x45mm and 7.62x39mm rounds by changing the barrels.

        The Army earlier announced to buy some million piece of CQB carbines, which were compact, low weight easily switchable Barrels, and some advanced optics for Pin point Aiming, basically they were used in Closed battle scenario's like encounter and door to door operations, as most Special forces already has some good numbers of M4 and TAR 21 Carbines, here most Carbines uses the 5.56x45mm rounds, which is mainly used for Long range but less effective due to low size, but very good in Close battles because of burst or Automatic fire.

    Here mostly Terrorists uses many variants of AK 47's, who houses the deadly more powerful 7.62x39 mm bullets, makes more powerful and also has armor piercing capability,  that's why most combats Soldiers die because of wounds, those bullets almost destroy the target because of the size, also it's effective in smaller area's, simply Bigger size can strike with more power and smaller size has increased range vice versa, so here the new CQB deal not so much interesting, since we need a good marksman along with some Heavy round Rifles, that's why still many Army guys loves the AK series Rifles,

        The Army Takes a good decision by replacing those old platforms with new Excalibur Rifles, which is same but it has some difference from it's mother INSAS.

      The Excalibur is nearly 500 grams lesser than the INSAS, makes similar weights to the American M4, the barrel length also shorten to 16 inches makes the Rifle less weight and length, makes it good to carry and fire easily. these characteristics makes the Excalibur good for ighting in close quarter battles. the Excalibur bitter smaller than the AK 47 and AKM rifles also bit longer compared to the TAR 21 Rifle.

        The Excalibur can hold 22 bullets in it's chamber, as 5.56x45mm bullets, which can fire single, 3 round burst and Fully automatic mode, earlier the INSAS had only single and three round burst modes only, the Excalibur has a good fore grip to hold the rifle and for steady shots, also the rails above the Rifle can house multiple attachments like Night vision Thermal, marksman scope and Red dot sights, amkes the rifle can adopt NATO standard attachments very easily.

       The OFB also plans to makes or already made a Version of Excalibur which can fire 7.62x39mm rounds, which is also can be shuffled with the Forces. actually it can solve most logistic and service issues. because of the single model rifle, we have couple models for Army Regular operations, where soldiers can hold different kind of Chambers and bullets, and after induction of Excalibur in full force this might be solved where only three models of bullets needed, for Regular Warfare in open scenario 5.56x54mm and for Close battles 7.62x39mm and for marksman or dedicated snipers it's .339 lapua magnum, only three variants.

       The another one is the MCIWS ( Multi Caliber infantry weapon System ) means a Single rifle can fire both 5.56x54mm and  7.62x39mm rounds by changing the Rifle barrels and Bullets only, the Rifle is in Advanced stage of Building which was the Last known Information, but no updated info about the current status, The Army also plans to shuffle MCIWS in the Forces later once it ready for induction. 

Army SPH Racing; MSTA and K9 on final Run

Army SPH Racing ; MSTA and K9 on final Run

      Artillery is one of the backbone of the Amry to to hold and perform offensive mission over enemy position. The Artillery comes several types, mostly easily classified as Towed and Self propelled, Towed means the Artillery need a wagon which can tow the heavy Artillery, although the Fire power is much huge and Long Range, another is Self propelled here Artillery fixed in a Tracked or wheel platform, mostly look like a Heavy tank.

           Indian Army has a Requirement of all kind of Artillery's, Here Army nearly closer to select the winner of Self propelled Howitzer. after heavy competition Russian 155mm MSTA and the South Korean K9 thunder which also a 155mm/52 cal Howitzer. Both in the final run to supply five hundreds of Howitzers to Indian Army

        Under the deal the Foreign company can supply first Hundred Howitzer directly from their production line, another four hundred will be built in India under any Private Companies, here the Current Racers Joined with Larsen and Tubro for Samsung K9 Thunder, and it's believed that OFB hands with the Uraltransmash MSTA. Both are the superior Platforms,

Samsung K9 Thunder

      Thunder is developed by the Korean Company Samsung a leading South Korean PSU, the Thunder also having a automatic reloader vehicle to arm the Howitzer to fire the Rounds continuously. the reloader vehicle called as K 10 Automatic reloader, the reloader can work with several systems, like It can reload a group of K 9 Thunder Howitzers.

       The main advantage of the of the Self propelled Howitzers is the all welded steel armour construction which can save the crew and the Howitzer from small 12.7 mm heavy machine Gun fire from Heavy rounds, Mortars and other Howitzers, even those heavy Howitzers can with stand of Anti Tank Mines. the Tanks has five members, the Tank commander, Driver, Gunner and Two loaders,

      The Howitzer can fire 155 mm shells from it's 52 caliber Mani gun, which can fire most kind of HE ( High Explosive ) and Rocket assisted Projectiles for extended Range of Targets, the effective firing range is nearly some 30 kilometers, to highest of 56 kilometers with RAP shells. the Howitzer also has a Heavy machine gun to fight against infantry and personal uses, the Howitzer have one 12.7 mm 50 Cal rifle for both anti personnel and anti air uses.

       The K9 has the unique capability of firing multiple rounds in same targets making completely damaging the target, it can fire shells with the interval of five seconds, makes it affordable fire power.

with the MRSI mode- Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact, the Howitzer can fire three rounds into the Target within fifteen seconds, but all of them can hit the Target in same time, with the help of Modifying the Shells trajectory.  

         The K9 weights some 47 Tons sounds the same tonnage of Main battle Tanks. with the help of 1000 HP engine it can attain the speed of 67 kilometers per hour.

           The Automatic reloader also share same Transport and body, to achieve the range and speed of the Howitzer. it can able to feed 12 shells into the Howitzer within a minute, each reloader has 104 ready to feed shells. the K 10 has automatic reloading technique, which requires low man power. the reloader also have the 12.7mm Heavy machine gun from protect the tank from outside threats.

      The entire Howitzer units are Protected from CBRN ( Chemical Biological Radiation and Nuclear) also withstand from and any kind of heavy EMP attacks. 

         The Samsung and L&T Signed a contract early 2012. to participate in the Indian Army Howitzer contract.

Uraltransmash MSTA-S

       The MSTA -S also shares same characteristics with the K9 thunder, unlike the Howitzer fitted in the T 80 Main Battle Tank Chassis and Runs with the T 72 Tanks engines, makes the Indian army can easily maintain and service the Howitzer system if any Problems persisted.

          The MSTA-S looks huge is size but weights only 42 Tons, makes 5 Tons lesser than the K9 Thunder. the MSTA-S fire power is bit low compared to the 15 rounders per minute, but MSTA fires only six to eight rounds per minute.

        But the Range is almost equal to the K9 thunder,  shares the same 12.7mm Heavy machine gun, also it's come with smoke launchers, to escape from threats and laser guided Anti tank missiles.

       The MSTA runs with 840 HP engines which gives the Howitzer to attain speed upto some 60 kilometers per hour, slightly less speed and power than the K9.  

      It's believed that Indian PSU OFB or BEL in hands with the Russian MSTA to produce the Howitzers in India. 

Dhanush The Indian 155mm 45 cal Artillery

Dhanush The Indian 155mm 45 cal Artillery

        

Dhanush Gun in Winter Trails

      Haunted by the purchase of Bofors India has always been on a lookout for a more reliable artillery fun.  India signed a deal with the Swedish company back in 1986 for the Bofors under which, India was to procure 410 pieces of 155mm Howitzer field guns at an estimated cost of $285 million.  But the deal was troubled from its inking, the scandal brought to light by the Sweden radio served as a major setback to the deal. The Bofors did prove their battle worthiness in the Kargil operation but since then never went any up gradation and the numbers of the crucial artillery guns have dwindled down to as low as 200. The need for these weapons is one of the most urgent needs of the army.

       The UPA government weighted plans to procure a latest Artillery gun from a foreign vendor and under ToT to continue productions and development in India. The Congress led government which had signed the deal in 1986 had suffered dearly losing the power owing to the Bofors deal and the UPA government was always reluctant to ink a deal. 

   At the same time the OFB was asked to come up with a design which would empower Indian Army with a reliable and powerful Artillery gun. The OFB choose the Bofors design for the base layout and decided to develop upon the design which would result in a very composite piece of machinery. 

 

          The program was code named Dhanush, OFB joined hands with L&T and Bharat forge for developing an indigenously developed howitzer which was to be handed over to the army for tests by 2013. The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) was selected as the lead developer for the program under which the gun was to feature a 155mm 52 calibre and the gun would offer a operating range of 38 kilometre.   

     The gun is claimed to be around 80 per cent indigenously developed the  APU, electronic dial sights and the thermal gunner sights are at the moment the components being imported but DRDO promises to indigenously develop these units in the coming years.

      By 2014 OFB handed over a highly advanced and robust Artillery gun named the Dhanush to the army, the army then went on to claim the product as one of the most reliable products to be ever placed on the battle field. 

   The Defence ministry then placed order for 114 Dhanush guns from OFB, each of these guns costs nearly 11 crore. The guns went under serial production last year and OFB handed over 18 Dhanush to the Army last year, and has plans to produce nearly 50 units this year and has plans to ramp up productions with newer facilities and will be supplying the army with 100 more guns in 2016, which would effectively complete the Initial orders.

    The Army has a requirement of about 400 long range howitzers, the tests of the Dhanush had hit dead ends owing to the barrel burst when the Dhanush was undergoing live round fire trials in Pokran range. But OFB did prove it was a failed ammunition round and not the barrel itself and OFB agreed to redesign the barrel. 

      Dhanush was recently test fired from the Pokran range yet again and was monitored for its performance under high temperature. Dhanush performed exceptionally well and performed missions well within the nominated parameters. Dhanush also was tested for low temperature operations in Kashmir valley where the gun performed under the set parameters and was successful in eliminating preset targets. 

     Briefing the media about Dhanush performance the Defence Minister on 27th April made public the test statics, and quoted all tests was successful and the Army was a satisfied lot with the gun's performance.

       Experts believe the 45 Cal Gun id effective for stop gap measure, but the real force multiplier would be the 52 cal Artillery with 155mm barrel which is still under development. India currently operates the M 46, an Soviet era field guns which enjoys a range of 39 kilometer thanks to its 155mm barrel and this could be used as an basic outline for the underdevelopment 155mm barrelled gun. 

Editor Karthik Kakoor

The Bofers Gun

Dhanush in Hot weather Trials

 

OFB Dhanush in Def Expo