NEW DELHI: Breaking three-decade long jinx, the Indian army finally signed the contract with a US firm to buy M777 lightweight howitzers, first ever acquisition of artillery guns after Bofors guns. India has not bought any of these artillery guns since the Bofors deal in 1986, which mired in the bribery scandal.
The deal worth $737 million (almost Rs 5,000 crore) was signed with the manufacture of artillery gun BAE Systems under the Foreign Military Sales with US. Union cabinet a fortnight had cleared the deal with US.
“We look forward to providing the Indian Army with the combat-proven M777,” said Dr. Joe Senftle, vice president & general manager for the Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. Interestingly, the M-777 howitzers are manufactured by BAE Systems, which now owns the original Swedish Bofors company.
“Our plan to establish a domestic Assembly, Integration and Test facility further demonstrates our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and remains a firm part of our strategy to work with the Indian defense sector across Air, Land, Sea and Security.” BAE systems further said.
According to the official source, out of 144 howitzers, 120 will be "assembled, integrated and tested" in India. BAE system has already tied up with Mahindra as its business partner in India. While 25 guns will come to India in a fly-away condition,
The first two howitzers will be delivered within six months of the contract being inked, with the others to follow at the rate of two per month. India will join US, Canadian and Australian forces to use M777 howitzers. According to an army official that M777 is essential for the mountain warfare, especially for the newly created Mountain Strike Corps for the Sino-Indian border. Army's 220 artillery regiments have received no new artillery since the 1980s, when the FH-77B, 155 mm/39 calibre Bofors gun was bought.
Mired with the allegations of kickbacks, only 400 Bofors guns were delivered and rest of the contract could not complete. Significantly, Bofors guns played a key role in Kargil operation in 1999 against Pakistani intruders.
Meanwhile, a two-day meeting of the 15th India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) began here on Wednesday. India-US MCG is a forum established to progress Defence Cooperation between HQ Integrated Defence Staff and US Pacific Command at the strategic and operational levels.
A 26 member delegation from the US Defence Forces and several Officers from the three Services HQs, representing the Indian side are attending the bilateral event.