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The Indian Army's artillery modernisation has encountered a significant obstacle, as the induction of the Sharang artillery gun has been suspended due to serious quality defects.
The Army has halted the acceptance of the remaining 141 guns from the state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) after discovering critical issues with the already delivered units, raising concerns about manufacturing standards and operational readiness.
The Sharang project, initiated in 2018, is a crucial upgrade program intended to enhance the firepower of the Army's vintage artillery fleet.
The plan involves converting 300 Soviet-era 130mm M-46 field guns into a more potent 155mm/45 calibre standard. This upgrade significantly boosts the gun's effective range from approximately 27 kilometres to more than 36 kilometres.
AWEIL, a public sector undertaking formed after the restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), was tasked with executing this ₹200-crore contract. While 159 of the upgraded guns have already been delivered, their performance has been unsatisfactory.
According to Army sources, the delivered Sharang systems are plagued by a range of flaws. These include "mechanical, electrical, electronic, and metallurgical defects" that severely compromise the reliability and performance of the weapons on the battlefield.
The Army has communicated that no further inductions will proceed until AWEIL resolves all identified problems and provides a guarantee of quality for all future deliveries.
A particularly alarming issue lies with the muzzle brakes, essential components fitted to the barrel's end to reduce recoil, improve accuracy, and ensure crew safety during firing.
AWEIL had reportedly procured 200 muzzle brakes from a private supplier. However, field units reported that these components were of substandard quality and did not meet the required technical specifications.
The failure of such a critical part not only hinders the gun's effectiveness but also poses a direct safety threat to the soldiers operating it.
This suspension deals a blow to the Indian Army’s broader Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, which aims to modernise its arsenal with new and upgraded systems.
The Sharang project was conceived as a cost-effective measure to extend the service life and enhance the capability of existing assets.
The delay now puts additional pressure on the military, which is simultaneously inducting other modern platforms like the South Korean K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer and the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).
AWEIL now faces the urgent task of rectifying the defects in the 159 guns already in service and overhauling its quality control mechanisms.
The Indian Army has made its stance clear: the programme will only resume once tangible improvements are demonstrated. This includes implementing stricter oversight of its supply chain, especially private vendors, and establishing more robust testing protocols to ensure that all equipment meets the military's stringent operational standards.
