Indian Army Floats Rs 6,500 Crore Tender For Procurement Of 400 Howitzers Under 'Make In India'

In bid to bolster indigenous defence capabilities, the Indian Army on Friday (16 August) issued a Rs 6,500 crore tender for the acquisition of 400 howitzers from from Indian firms.

Indian Army's Regiment of Artillery aims to use the expertise of Indian industry in developing a 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System, which will be lighter, versatile, and adaptable to future technological needs.

"A tender for buying 400, 155-mm 52-calibre towed artillery gun systems (TAGS) along with towing vehicles from Indian firms under the Buy Indian-IDDM category has been issued," senior military officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Bharat Forge, Larsen and Toubro, Adani, and Ordnance Factory Board are among the local defence majors who have received the tender, they added.

The Indian Army has already issued a tender for buying 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) along with one for finding a mounted gun system to meet its operational requirements along borders with China and Pakistan.

The Army wants these guns to be lighter and easier to deploy in high-altitude areas like the older Bofors guns.

This procurement is a part of the Army's broader plan for Mediumisation using indigenous artillery systems, with completion targeted by the year 2042.

Over the past decade, four contracts for the procurement of 155 mm howitzers have been finalised. These systems have already been inducted, with more regiments currently being equipped.

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