Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 27

Thirty years after the controversial Bofors artillery gun deal, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is on the verge of ordering an artillery gun for which a contract is in final stages.This will be the first-ever 155-mm artillery gun purchase since March 1986 when 400 pieces were purchased from Swedish company AB Bofors for Rs 1,500 crore. Under threat from the ‘Bofors controversy’, the purchase of artillery guns has been cancelled or withdrawn on six occasions in the past 15 years.In an interview to The Tribune, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday said: “The self-propelled artillery gun contract is near completion for placing an order, only minor modifications need to be done.”India is looking to buy 100 155-mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzers at Rs 4,500 crore. The contract will have a clause for a follow-on order of 50 more such guns. Another artillery gun, the Dhanush, based on the Bofors design and transfer of technology, is also ready.

155-mm howitzers to be bought

• India is looking to buy 100 155-mm/52-caliber self-propelledhowitzers for Rs 4,500 crore; contract is being finalised for guns mounted on a tank-type chassis
• Army is seeking supply of 100 guns within three years of signing the contract. The gun will have up to 50 per cent local content. The gun on offer is known as ‘K-9 Vajra-T’ in India
• MoD is negotiating with Larsen & Toubro, which has a tie-up with Korean company Samsung to produce self-propelled guns