Homegrown Firepower: Multiple Indian Companies Respond to Army's 105mm Howitzer Tender

The Indian Army's drive to modernize its artillery capabilities has received a significant response, with multiple domestic defence companies submitting bids for a tender to supply 200 new self-propelled 105mm howitzers.

This procurement underscores India's commitment to bolstering its firepower along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, particularly in the challenging high-altitude terrain.

The Army aims to replace traditional towed artillery with self-propelled howitzers, offering enhanced mobility and flexibility in mountainous regions. Issued in November 2023, the tender aligns with the government's push for indigenous defence solutions.

Indigenous Solutions Emerge​

Several prominent Indian companies are vying for the contract:

• Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited: Submitting its "Garuda 105_v2" 105mm self-propelled howitzer, which has reportedly shown promising results in limited Army trials.
• Tata Advanced Systems: Offering a 105mm Mounted Gun System integrated into their Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicle (LAMV), a versatile 4x4 patrol vehicle.
• Mahindra Defence Systems: Known for its Armored Light Specialist Vehicle, the company is developing a 105mm Mounted Gun System to compete for the tender.

Focus on Compatibility​

Interestingly, the Indian Army has mandated the use of a standardized 105mm gun, domestically produced by the Gun Carriage Factory in Jabalpur since 1984.

This decision simplifies logistics and ensures compatibility across potential systems.

While offering some customization, competing companies will need to integrate this standardized gun into their howitzer designs.

Rigorous Testing Ahead​

The Kalyani Garuda 105_v2 has undergone initial Army testing, with reportedly positive results. Nonetheless, all submitted systems face a comprehensive evaluation process to guarantee they fulfill the Army's rigorous operational standards.

This tender marks a significant step towards modernizing the Indian Army's artillery capabilities and promoting India's defence indigenization efforts.

The final choice of the 105mm Mounted Gun System will have implications for the Army's operational effectiveness along the LAC and beyond.

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

Now initiate the procurement process before the contenders lose interest. Better to sign the contract by at least Sept-Oct this year.

 

[NSR]

Order limited quantities from all three vendors and keep using them.
During user trials, Indian Army will know which one is the best one.
And then India can order in bulk to meet its all requirements.

Just do not go through lengthy trials at all as it delays the fielding.

 

[INDIAN]

India's procurement process needs to be speed up , its pathetically slow.

 

[Borodine]

Everything takes so long to order. Even equipment for which all tests have been concluded eg ATAGS, are not getting ordered. What a joke.

 

[Satya Dev]

IA's 'Field Artillery Rationalization Plan' formulated in 1999 was to replace all 105mm arty with 155mm artillery guns by 2027. Bharat Forge has already developed 30km range MArG-BR 155mmx39cal MGS with autoloader for Armenia, so IA can ask them to offer 42km range MArG-ER 155mmx52cal MGS for deployment on the North LOC mountains (Kashmir-Ladakh-Himachal-U'Khand) & North East LAC mountains (Sikkim-Arunachal).

 

[GMR]

Okkkk. Good... We all be waiting for induction, may be on around 2030-35-40 if IA fast tracks the process..👍

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

First order 5 pcs each from every interested manufacturer and test it in all conditions. Whoever is the best, give them final orders.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

There needs to be a lot more transparency about these 'trials'. Army needs to be held to account on how they are mking decision. It has been 5 months since tender was released. What is progress since then.
ARMY NEEDS TO DO WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE UPDATES REGARDING ALL OF ITS PROCUREMENT. We as citizens deserve to know as this concerns our security.

 

[bonito]

There had been enough orders given to Tata and Mahindra in various other logistics equipments. Kalyani is ready with the product so there is no need to wait for the other products to arrive. Better order minimum numbers (not biting the supplier) and when other products are ready they can undergo parallel testing.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to buy more than just 200 of these guns. This will be a perfect gun in high altitude, rough terrain and extremely cold weather as it allows us to quickly deploy at a fast speed which would give the army more cover and protection. We already have the necessary infrastructure to manufacture our 105mm indigenous shells with a different variety as well so we can quickly put these guns on the frontline.

 

[Sandeep]

Everything takes so long to order. Even equipment for which all tests have been concluded eg ATAGS, are not getting ordered. What a joke.

They will place a order for about 300 ATAGS guns this year.

 

[Eren Jaeger]

There needs to be a lot more transparency about these 'trials'. Army needs to be held to account on how they are mking decision. It has been 5 months since tender was released. What is progress since then.
ARMY NEEDS TO DO WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE UPDATES REGARDING ALL OF ITS PROCUREMENT. We as citizens deserve to know as this concerns our security.

Not even our supreme leader holds press conferences but you expect the military to do so?

 

[Ajath]

105 MM mounted guns may not be adequate in terms of firepower for IA.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Not even our supreme leader holds press conferences but you expect the military to do so?

Our elected supreme leader has many deputies who give press conferences and interviews all the time. It is not the job of supreme leader to give progress report of projects through press conferences.

Every one of our ministers give many interviews and press conferences. Mudi also gives interviews, but they are rare. He recently gave an interviee to a tamil channel.

I am not asking army chief or CDS to give press conferences. The head of army procurement division or engineering division or even the spokesperson or PR officer can do so to give weakly progress reports.

 

[Borodine]

They will place a order for about 300 ATAGS guns this year.

Been hearing that for several years now.