Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 24

As the Army awaits a new set of artillery guns, two separate classes of the weapon’s home-made version will be showcased at the Republic Day parade as part of the ‘Make in India’ push.Dhanush, produced by Ordnance Factory Board, and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, being made by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will complete the India-made troika along with the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, at the parade.This is the first time that locally made products will signify the virtual coming of age for the Indian defence equipment production.In case of Dhanush, the Army has carried out ‘user-validation’ trials in the Himalayas during the ongoing winter. A total of six guns are being tested-fired in snow and in conditions where temperature hovers around minus 10 degrees. A production-level prototype is being tested and this is supposed to be the last lap of trials before the ordnance factory starts bulk production.Dhanush 155 MM/45 calibre gun is based on the 1980s’ Bofors FH-77B/39 calibre artillery gun designed and aided by the transfer of technology (ToT) clause signed with the Swedish company.The gun’s bore, or its gun barrel, is 155 millimetres. Calibre relates to barrel length —the greater the calibre, the longer the barrel, resultantly its ability to fire increases.Dhanush has several improvements over Bofors to make it a modern weapon.The other gun is the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, which was successfully tested in Odisha in December. Though the DRDO is its producer, most parts have been built by two private firms — Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Kalyani Group have made a prototype each. The barrels of the gun come from the ordnance factory.