In a major fillip to the capabilities of the artillery regiment, the Indian and US government have formally signed the Letter of Acceptance (LoA), for the sale of 145 M777 howitzers under a $750 million deal. The multi-million dollar deal was formalized on the sidelines of the 15th India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meet which began in Delhi last week.

The acquisition process was initiated nearly a decade back, when the Indian Army raised a request for Ultra Light-weight Howitzer (ULH) to arm its Mountain Strike Corps, which was being raised to counter the Chinese.

A formal contract to finalize the deal is expected to be signed and ratified when Mr. Ashton Carter, the Defense Secretary of USA, visits India later this month.

The artillery regiment, which is the second largest arm of the army, has failed to induct even a single gun for the past three decades. The infamous ‘Bofors Scandal’ that emerged in the 90’s had haunted every single procurement program floated by the army. The inking of the M777 deal is a major relief for the army even as tensions rake up along LoC.

The M777 howitzers are ultra light-weight towed artillery guns which are manufactured by BAE systems. The gun weighs a mere 4.2 tonnes and this makes it possible to be rapidly deployed at moment’s notice.

The modular design of the gun also allows it to be towed along narrow and treacherous mountain roads with ease. It can be transported to the battlefield, slung under heavy-lift helicopters like the Boeing manufactured Chinook, which India is acquiring from the US by 2022. India’s strategic lift aircraft – Lockheed Martin C130J Super Hercules – can carry two of these howitzers in addition to support systems in a single sortie.

The deal has been processed under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. For years, US and Indian government were at loggerheads over the pricing of the able guns. However, renewed efforts launched by the current government have helped India see through the crucial deal.

BAE systems, is expected to deliver at least two guns within three months of the contract and these guns will be tested at adverse operational environment with Indian-operated ammunitions. The company will delivery two guns per month and plans to complete the deal by the 54th month.

Of the 145 guns, the company will manufacture 25 pieces in its US plant and deliver them within the next 24 months. The remaining 120 pieces will be manufactured indigenously with Mahindra Defence (designated Indian partner for the deal).

BAE systems in a statement said “We welcome the news that the Governments of India and U.S. have agreed on the Foreign Military Sale of 145 M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers”

Dr. Joe Senftle, vice president & general manager for Weapons Systems said “We look forward to providing the Indian Army with combat proven M777.”

Close to 1,090 M777 howitzers are in service with US, Australian and Canadian forces. The guns have proved their capabilities from the treacherous heights of Afghanistan to barren deserts of Iraq.

M-777 howitzers can fire up to 5 – 155mm GPS guided accurate munitions and artillery shells per minute. The optimal range of the gun is speculated to be around 25 kilometers and the longest recorded shot is 36 kilometers. A single shot from the gun can incinerate enemy bunkers and ground based targets.

M777 Deal – Major boost to ‘Make in India’

Even though the deal was contracted under the ‘Buy’ category, due stress was given to boost indigenous facilities. Of the 145 howitzers on order, 120 pieces are to be locally manufactured by an Indian vendor, thus providing private partners an opportunity to participate in the lucrative defence sector.

BAE systems in February 2016 had chosen ‘Mahindra’ as its Indian partner to execute the offset clauses. The company in its statement has confirmed offsets worth over $200 million will be invested to develop Indian suppliers.

Dr. Joe Senftle speaking on the company’s commitment said “Our plan to establish a domestic Assembly, Integration and Testing facility further demonstrates our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and [it] remains a firm part of our strategy to work with Indian defense sectors across Air, Land, Sea and Security”

A major portion of the M777 is being currently manufactured in the company’s UK plants. The final integration and testing phase which is being handled at the BAE’s Hattiesburg facility in Mississippi, USA will be over time shifted to India. Mahindra Defence will be in-charge of assembling, integrating and testing the guns at the AIT facility. This will enable the army to have unhindered access to spare parts and it further drastically reduces the maintenance time and cost of the guns.

The addition of the M777s is a major boost to Indian Army’s herculean efforts to counter the Chinese aggression along the Eastern frontiers of Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Deal for the M777 ULF is largely seen as the dawn for the rise of the artillery regiment that has suffered for decades. With the offset clauses Indian defence sector will stand to gain critical knowledge from the deal.

Further, a part of Indian Army’s demands under the FARP (Field Artillery Rationalization Program) has been met. There still exists a need for over 1800 artillery guns to ensure India’s supremacy in the battlefields. The government working proactively with the army and the development agencies should work towards answering these grappling deficits at the earli

TOURISTS WOULD GET TO SEE THE MILITARISATION OF THE SIKHS, THE SIKH EMPIRE: ITS AFTERMATH, SINO­INDIAN & INDO­PAK WAR’S IN THE FIRST PHASE OF OPENING

A ray of hope has emerged for the partiallycompleted Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial and Museum as tourists will soon get an access to four galleries of the venue.

GURPREET SINGH/HTConstruction of one of the galleries in full swing at Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial and Museum in Amritsar.

The galleries (number 2, 3, 6 and 8) are around 85% complete and aiming opening on January 15.

On Thursday, cosmetic touches and landscaping was being done at the premises.

General manager of the museum Lt Col H P Singh who was gearing up the team and supervising the work in the galleries confirmed to Hindustan Times that on January 15, the first phase would be opened for tourists with four galleries and 7D theatre.

The memorial is built at a cost of ₹130 crore and is spread in eight acres of land. It unfolds the era of sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Singh till the Kargil War.

Built at Naraingarh area, the venue has a 45-metre high sword in the middle of nine galleries. Outside, three tanks have been housed out of which, two are from Pakistan captured by Indian troops. There is also a fighter aircraft on display for the tourists and despite just a few features of the memorial on display, the museum is already attracting around 1,000 tourists a day and on weekends, the number ranges from 6,000 to 7,000 visitors.

Singh said, “It is the first of its kind war memorial and museum in the country. The Army has a partial role in it but now, it is a property of the defence service welfare (DSW) Punjab which would be supervised by director of DSW Brig JS Arora and a team of 50 people.”

On December 24, special principal secretary to CM and secretary of DSW KJS Cheema would visit the museum premises to meet the team working there and review the development work.

Features of the galleries to be opened in mid January

The gallery number 2 would highlight ‘Miri Piri’ concept of sixth Guru Hargobind and then how the ninth Guru, Teg Bhadur sacrificed his life for the Kashmiri Pandits leading to a rise in the Sikh empire.

In gallery number 3, the Sikh empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh would be unfolded. People would also see Anglo-Sikh wars with the British and heroism of General Hari Singh Nalwa.

In gallery number 6, SinoIndian war 1962 along with Indo-Pak war 1965 will be narrated through texts and audio-visual systems.

The language and texts would be in English and Punjabi while the guides would communicate the same in Hindi. Gallery number 7 would take the people to the third Indo-Pak War 1971.

“If we are opening the galleries in phases it is because we do not believe in defective and incorrect displays of history and its artefacts. We have to be accurate and exact and that takes time,” Singh said.

The memorial-cum-museum was inaugurated by Punjab chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal on October 23 this year.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 23

The Ministry of Defence today accorded in principle permission to the Indian Air Force to procure one additional C17 Boeing Globemaster, the last piece produced by the manufacturer, along with other equipment and platforms worth Rs 8,184 crore.At the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting held here, the Ministry gave “Acceptance of Necessity” to four proposals, including the heavy-lift transport aircraft manufactured by Boeing, to join current IAF fleet of 10 aircraft bought for Rs 18,645 crore.Sources in the ministry said the DAC also approved procurement of 1,500 Nuclear-Biological-Chemical suites to be designed and developed indigenously and produced by the public sector major Bharat Electronics to go with the BMPs of the Indian Army. Its estimated cost is Rs 1,265 crore.Another Rs 5,500 crore was sanctioned for procurement of six multi-mission maritime reconnaissance aircraft for Indian Coast Guard that will incorporate state-of-the art mission suite developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation. Currently, the Coast Guard operates a fleet of Dornier aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.The DAC approval for a fourth proposal was to procure 55 Low Level Light Weight Radars for both Indian Army and Navy at a cost of Rs 419 crore.The decision of IAF to procure the last Globemaster left with the company will be under the Foreign Military Sales route through which it brought 10 aircraft under an agreement signed in 2011 that had an option to procure additional six.The utilisation of the aircraft in India came under adverse observation from the Comptroller and Auditor General for underutilisation of the operational capabilities of the aircraft. “With cost of Rs 43.19 lakh per flying hour for C-17 aircraft, this was imprudent,” the CAG said. The annual average load airlifted by C-17 ranged between 13 tonnes and 18 tonnes per sortie, against the aircraft’s payload capacity of 70 tonnes.The aircraft was inducted by the IAF between June 2013 and December 2014 to set up a unit. Boeing closed the Globemaster assembly line at California last summer.

Defence Council nod to proposals

• The Defence Acquisition Council approved procurement of 1,500 Nuclear-Biological-Chemical suites to be designed and developed indigenously. Its estimated cost is Rs 1,265 crore
• Another Rs 5,500 crore was sanctioned for procurement of six multi-mission maritime reconnaissance aircraft for Indian Coast Guard
• The DAC also approved procurement of 55 LowLevel Light Weight Radars for both Army and Navyat a cost of Rs 419 crore

Say they have been meted out a stepmotherly treatment

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16

Several ex-servicemen got together and celebrated the Vijay Diwas today and deliberated over the problems and challenges being faced by them.They lambasted the Union and the state governments for meting out a step-motherly treatment to them. They alleged that despite its historic importance, the government had not been celebrating this day, which marks its military victory over Pakistan in 1971 during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.On this day (December 16), the chief of Pakistan forces along with 93,000 troops surrendered to the allied forces of the Indian Army.General SPS Grewal (Retd.), Brig Inder Mohan (Retd.) and Col HS Kahlon (VrC) were prominent among those who addressed the gathering.Grewal said when they were in job, they faced huge challenges as their lives were always at risk just for the sake of the country and when they retired from service, they again faced challenges as neither the state government nor the Central government pay heed to improve their welfare.Grewal said no political party was ready to give due representation to them in the elections. “We want that at least one Rajya MP should be from the Army background so that he can raise our issues in the Upper House primarily. Now, all parties are providing a step-motherly treatment to us,” he said, adding that they still have some hope from the Congress party.Pledge to make students aware of rich history of armed forcesCol HS Kahlon said veterans who participated in the meeting took a pledge to visit their respective areas and educational institutions to make students aware of the rich history of the armed forces. They also proposed the government to develop all battle grounds as tourist spots with museums where awareness trips could be organised on the lines of the UK government.

Lt Gen Devraj Anbu with Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Thursday. Tribune Photo

Jammu, December 15

Northern Command chief Lt Gen Devraj Anbu met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.Lt General Anbu briefed the Governor about the obtaining security situation in the state. The Governor and the Northern Command chief also discussed some important issues relating to effective internal security management in the wake of the terrorist attack on an Army camp at Nagrota.This was Lt General Anbu’s first meeting with the Governor after taking over charge as the Northern Command chief.The Governor wished Lt General Anbu a successful tenure. — TNS

The incident occurred at 2 pm. — Representational photo

Chandigarh, December 4

One more soldier died in Saturday’s ambush on a military convoy in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, taking the death toll in the incident to two.

The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang is believed to have been behind the attack.

“We believe it to be handiwork of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang militants who have some presence in Tirap district,” a defence spokesman said.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

One soldier died on Saturday. Eight more are wounded.

It was the third attack on security personnel in the area close to the border in the past 15 days. On November 19, a combined team of the NSCN-K and the United Liberation Front of Assam had carried out an ambush on Army personnel in Tinsukia district, killing three soldiers.

On November 26, the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia ambushed a group of 21 Para commandos in Manipur, injuring five.  — Agencies

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised political temperature considerably when she accused the army of “clear violation of the Constitution” by attempting to “create a civil war-like situation in the country”. Mamata Didi has a penchant for dramatics and victimhood, sometimes justifiably so, during the three-decade rule of the Left Front in West Bengal. The Chief Minister decided to spend the night at the state secretariat. Perhaps she was readying herself to do a Boris Yeltsin in front of army tanks in the morning.What made it worse was other organs of the state like the West Bengal Police reduced themselves to parroting Ms. Banerjee’s hysterical social media postings. The air cleared after the army uploaded acknowledged copies of letters sent to senior police officers informing them about their exercise. Skeptics will want to know why the army didn’t approach the National Highways Authority for the information. In a digital world, this information, updated to the last second, could have been instantly emailed. For one, it is always beneficial to conduct a field exercise rather than framing strategies based on number crunching. Second, toll gates are a recent innovation. The army perhaps did not think it fit to adjust its procedures to the digitalisation of toll booths.But Mamata Banerjee has rarely lent herself to cogitative contemplation in public life. A day earlier she had alleged an attempt to kill her when her flight was kept on hold for landing due to congestion. The next day her colleagues were raising Cain in Parliament. Rational explanations from the airlines cut no ice with Mamata and her party colleagues. To be fair, Mamata is matching the ruling coalition at the Centre and even her new-found crusader, Arvind Kejriwal, in appealing to emotion while ignoring the facts. The Centre’s Love Jehad, surgical strikes and demonetisation are of the same piece. In this era of post-truth, perhaps we should reconcile ourselves to a kind of public posturing where truth is of secondary importance. But the downside of such affectations is their collateral damage on apolitical institutions like the army.

Army row: Mamata unrelenting

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM

Kolkata, December 2

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left the state Secretariat on Friday evening after staying put overnight to protest the alleged Army deployment in the state and threatened to explore “legal options” if the Army was not withdrawn.Before leaving the seat of power “Nabanna” in neighbouring Howrah district, she said the Army was deployed at toll plazas while keeping her government in the dark.Edit: Perils of overreaction“We have never seen such arrogance (by the Centre). If the Army is not withdrawn, we will explore legal options,” she said, alleging the Army was being used for “political vendetta”. Denying the charges, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Army’s Eastern Command claimed it was a routine annual exercise to assess the availability of load carriers at  major entry points in states.The TMC supremo claimed the Army had informed the police about the exercise only for one spot — the toll plaza of Vidyasagar Setu near Nabanna.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“The police did not permit them to conduct such an exercise. They did not give any intimation for other places where they undertook the exercise,” she said. The Chief Minister said such exercises were not conducted in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. “It was done in Bengal because we have been raising our voice for the people of India,” she claimed. Demanding to know whether a military coup had taken place, she said: “The motive is political, vindictive, unconstitutional, unethical and undemocratic.” She spent the night at the Secretariat, demanding withdrawal of the Army from the second Hooghly Bridge toll plaza, about 500 m from Nabanna. Shortly after midnight, the Eastern Command said the Army had been asked to withdraw from the toll plaza near Nabanna as it had already collected the required data.Denying Mamata’s charges, Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar and the Eastern Command of the Army claimed it was a routine annual data collection exercise carried out to assess the availability of load carriers at all major entry points in various states.General Officer Commanding Bengal area (officiating) Maj Gen. Sunil Yadav said the exercise was conducted with “full knowledge and coordination with the local police.” — TNS

Nagrota terror attack: Says those behind ‘lapses’ will have to pay

Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister

New Delhi, December 2

In the wake of Nagrota terror attack, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today admitted there is scope for improvement in security as some “sort of lethargy” has set in over a period of time and said those behind “lapse” will pay for it.The minister said the recent surgical strike had led to a sense of “uncertainty” in the Pakistan security establishment and it was also a good confidence building measure for India.Replying to queries on security arrangements at Army camps, Parrikar said: “I think we can definitely improve upon it. Probably, over a period, some sort of lethargy has set in. Relaxation, it is obvious… it is taking some time.”(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Militants had stormed a complex of an Army unit in Nagrota on Tuesday, killing seven security personnel, including two officers.Parrikar, speaking at a function, said it was “very painful” to see soldiers die but they needed to save children and families. “I think we need to think out of the box. I am very sure that Army is aware of it and working on it,” he said. On fixing responsibility, Parrikar said even if he did a mistake, he would “have to pay for it”. “Even if there are lapses, they need to be tackled properly. You cannot afford lapses,” the minister said.Parrikar spoke about the need for use of smart technologies for perimeter protection of sensitive bases but said infrastructure could not be created overnight. He indicated that lengthy Army procedures were coming in the way of getting things done swiftly. The minister said he had taken the initiative for the Army to experiment with three to four types of fences on a pilot basis but “they have massive procedures”. On possibility of more surgical strikes, Parrikar said the “principle of uncertainty” should be allowed to operate. “It will be beneficial to all of us.”“Earlier, one thing was sure that India won’t cross (Line of Control). Now that one thing is missing,” he said. — PTI

Announcement of new Army, IAF chiefs soon

• New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said the names of the next Army and IAF chiefs will be announced very soon. “I don’t see any reason why it has to be two months ahead… they are out of the top people in the forces. The Defence Ministry has cleared the names. It has to be approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet,” he said. Current Army Chief General Dalbir Singh and IAF chief Air Marshal Arup Raha are set to retire on December 31. IANS

National Conference working president Omar Abdullah addresses party workers in Srinagar on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 30

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today described the situation in the state as a “cause of grave concern,” saying the militants were “no more deterred” from attacking armed forces even after the surgical strikes.In a series of tweets yesterday night, hours after the militant attack on an Army base in the Nagrota area of the Jammu region, and talking to reporters today on the sidelines of his party’s function here, Omar also said the state and the Central governments should secure the border and ensure peace.“Regardless of what BJP spokespersons would have us believe, Pakistan is no more isolated internationally today than it was six months ago,” Omar wrote on Twitter.In his tweets, Omar questioned the efficacy of the surgical strikes, launched against militant launch pads across the Line of Control on September 29 this year with a focus to ensure that militants “do not succeed in their design of infiltration.” “It is also true that terrorists are no more deterred from attacking our armed forces today than they were prior to the surgical strikes!” Omar said.Omar said the Central government “must explain its Pakistan policy”, as seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed yesterday in a deadly fidayeen attack on the Army base in Nagrota.While speaking to reporters today at his party’s headquarters here, Omar, who is the working president of the National Conference, said there was no doubt that the situation was cause of grave concern.“In recent months, we have seen serious deterioration in relations between India and Pakistan. We have seen a significant increase in tension along the LoC. Unfortunately, we have also seen a significant rise in militancy, resulting in far higher casualties than in recent years,” he said, adding that the situation pointed towards a “failure, both at the level of the state and Central government.”“We hope that steps will be taken by the state and Central governments to secure our border and ensure we live in peace,” he said.He said India and Pakistan need to take initiatives for dialogue. “Pakistan cannot expect only India to take initiative. Modi took initiative, he went to Lahore, he went and attended wedding in Nawaz Sharif’s family, what happened afterwards, Pathankot. So, therefore, Pakistan cannot expect only India to take initiative. Pakistan also has to take it, this is a situation where both have to take initiative,” he said.

Azad pays tributes to martyrs

Jammu, November 30

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad strongly condemned the terror strike on the Army base at Nagrota in Jammu on Tuesday.“I pay homage to the brave officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. My heart goes out to their families and I pray that the Almighty gives them strength to bear the irreparable loss,” Azad added. He also urged the Central Government to take concrete steps to prevent such occurrence in future. Azad also expressed deep concern on the increase in frequency of such attacks and firing incidents along the border in the last few months.Meanwhile,NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana also paid tributes to the bravehearts. —TNS