Having co-designed an indigenous, 25-tonne, light tank, the DRDO has placed a development order on L&T to build the first prototype, say Army sources.

Meanwhile, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) — the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) apex body for capital purchases — has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), or in-principle agreement, for seven light tank regiments, each equipped with 45 tanks.

The AoN requires L&T — the MoD’s development partner — to build one regiment of light tanks, while the MoD acquires the other six regiments under the “Make” procedure.

The light tank will have a hull, co-developed by DRDO and L&T, that will house an 800 horsepower (HP) engine optimised for high altitudes. The engine will be provided by German firm MTU, which is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.

Mounted on this hull will be a 105-millimetre gun turret, procured ready-built from Belgian firm, John Cockerill.

It is intended to marry the DRDO’s expertise in tank design, created while developing the Arjun tank, with the heavy engineering capability of L&T, which is already building the K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery gun system for the army.

The indigenous light tank was initially planned to be built on the chassis of the K-9 Vajra. This, however, was ruled out because the Army placed a weight limit of 25 tonnes on the light tank, while the Vajra’s heavy chassis would take its weight to at least 34-35 tonnes.

The armoured challenge from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh is centred on China’s new light tank, the agile and versatile ZTQ 105 — also known as the Type 15 –developed by China’s North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) and unveiled during the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016.

The ZTQ 105 has a 105-mm rifled gun that can destroy enemy tanks at ranges of two-to-three kilometres (km). It also fires anti-tank guided missiles to knock out tanks at ranges of five km.

The Indian Army currently uses Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks on the Sino-Indian border. But these hefty, 42-45-tonne main battle tanks are designed for the plains. Movement is difficult for them on steep and narrow mountain roads.

There are also limitations on how much their heavy 120-mm guns can be depressed or elevated, sometimes preventing them from engaging targets on hilltops or in valleys. That is why the Army took only small numbers of T-72 and T-90 tanks into Ladakh to counter the Chinese intrusions in 2020, and used them only sparingly.

In contrast, the Army has a formidable combat tradition of using light tanks in the mountains. In 1944, it used Stuart and Sherman tanks in the battle of Kohima. In 1948, these same tanks pushed back Pakistan forces in the Zoji-la pass. Against China in 1962, the Army used light AMX-13 tanks in the battle of Gurung Hill near Pangong Tso and deployed them in Bomdila and Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh. In the 1971 Bangladesh campaign, French AMX-13 and Soviet PT-76 tanks played a stellar role in the battle of Garibpur.

Although the K-9 Vajra artillery gun is designed for use in plains terrain, the Sino-Indian border tensions in 2020 saw a full regiment of these long-range, self-propelled guns deployed in eastern Ladakh, to increase the army’s long-range firepower.

Their successful deployment prompted the Army to consider diverting significant numbers of K-9 Vajras for use in mountainous terrain. This requires L&T to build 100 more K-9 Vajras; as well as induction of the Ordnance Factory Board’s indigenous 155 mm, 45 calibre Dhanush howitzers, and imported M777 ultralight guns.

To cater for this enhanced firepower, L&T has built 100 K-9 Vajras in Hazira, near Surat, with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense. It handed over the 100th SP howitzer on February 18, 2021, ahead of its contracted date.

Now the MoD is pursuing the “Vajra repeat programme”, which requires L&T to build another 100 K-9 Vajra howitzers. L&T’s proposal is currently before the MoD’s “technical evaluation committee.” The commercial bid is likely to be opened this month.

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Out of the five projects to purchase various categories of howitzers, only two have been realised so far – delivery of K-9 Vajra and M-777 ultra lightweight howitzers – meeting just about 9 per cent of the planned acquisition. In the sixth project on the up-gunning of older generation 130 mm guns, the forces received only about 16 per cent of the guns that the army was to receive by March 2022.

The bulk (77 per cent) of the proposed howitzer acquisition comprising 155 mm/52 calibre towed and 155 mm/52 calibre mounted gun systems has not materialised though they were the first two artillery modernisation projects that received the Defence Minister’s approval in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

“Out of the six cases of acquisitions and upgradation of artillery guns, only three culminated into contracts, comprising merely 17 per cent of the total number of guns proposed to be acquired. The replacement of existing artillery guns has been progressing at a very slow pace for over two decades,” the CAG said in its report tabled in the Parliament earlier this week. As of March 2022, only 8 per cent of the guns had been delivered.

Acquisition of self-propelled (wheeled) guns was dropped from the modernisation plans without identifying a suitable substitute.

The 155 mm/52 calibre towed guns, which is to be the mainstay for the Regiment of Artillery in the future – has not been purchased even after a decade-long procedure to identify the vendor, conducting trials and fixing the price after protracted negotiations.

In December 2020, the Narendra Modi government imposed an embargo on their import on the ground of self-reliance. This was one of the 101 items which were brought under the embargo. Going by the original plan approved in 2002, the defence ministry was to directly buy just about 13 per cent of the towed guns while 38 per cent were to be made in India under technology transfer. The 155 mm towed guns were more than half of the total number of howitzers that the army planned to buy.

The army in December 2022 issued a fresh request for information to buy such guns from Indian vendors, once again starting the procurement process as per an acquisition plan drafted in 1999.

The procurement of the mounted gun systems, which was approved with a transfer of technology clause, did not progress beyond the first stage approval (acceptance of necessity) accorded in 2009. It didn’t even progress to the tendering stage (request for proposal) even after 12 years. Asked by the audit, the ministry remained silent on the procurement of such systems.

“The entire (artillery) acquisition process was mired in delays at various stages of procurement for almost all type of guns,” the CAG said in the report, noting that actions like up-gunning of older guns and buying Dhanush (using the Bofors technology) systems would only serve as “stopgap measures.”

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The Army has significantly bolstered its fire power along the frontier with China by deploying a range of rockets and artillery weapons and plans to procure an array of additional systems, including 100 K9 Vajra howitzers and UAVs, to augment combat prowess.

The Artillery units of the Indian Army already deployed K-9 Vajra Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzers, ultra-light M-777 howitzers, Pinaka rocket systems and Dhanush gun systems.

The Army plans to equip its Artillery units along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with a range of up to 90 kms in addition to UAVs of 15-20 kms range. At present, medium altitude UAVs in the Army’s inventory are being operated by the Army Aviation units.

The Army is set to procure a new batch of 100 more K9 Vajras howitzers, in addition to 100 such guns ordered in 2017. The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the proposal for ordering 100 more K9 Vajras. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued soon.

The K9 Vajras were originally procured for deployment in deserts, but following the eastern Ladakh standoff, the Army deployed a significant number of the howitzers in that high-altitude region.

The Army is also procuring winterisation kits so the howitzers work in sub-zero temperature.

The Army is also in the process of procuring indigenously developed Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, commonly known as ATAGS, and Mounted Gun Systems (MGS). This gun system has many firsts to its credit – 25-litre chamber, long range, as also rapid and sustained rates of fire. The user trials on the gun systems have been satisfactorily conducted and that there are few procedural issues that are being taken care of.

Induction of more advanced Pinaka weapon systems is in the offing. Six more regiments of the systems are being procured and their delivery would commence soon. The new Pinaka regiments will be equipped with electronically and mechanically improved weapon system capable of firing variety of ammunition over longer ranges. One regiment of Pinaka has been inducted along Northern borders in high altitude area after extensive validation. The defence ministry has already approved procurement of guided extended range rockets for Pinaka.

The Army is also in the process of procuring ‘Loitering Munition System’ thereby augmenting its surveillance, target acquisition and precision strike capability. The Army is also in the process of procuring indigenously designed and developed Loitering Weapon System with enhanced strike capability.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The Army is procuring a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and target acquisition purposes—including loitering munitions for combat roles—for its artillery units deployed along India’s borders with China and Pakistan. This includes an unspecified number of mini UAVs for which internal deliberations are at an advanced stage and also loitering munitions which the Army bought last year under emergency procurement.

There is a need to procure runway-independent UAVs to possess the sensor-to-shooter capability.

This effectively means there is a need for UAVs to observe, acquire target, direct artillery fire and carry out post-strike damage assessment matching the extended ranges of the gun and rocket systems being procured by the Army.

The UAVs will aid the Observation Post (OP) Officers and Forward Observation Officers (FOO) with information gathered through surveillance in advance. The idea is to procure enough quantity so that every OP officer is equipped with at least one mini UAV in the future, which would help him see beyond the hill features in the high-altitude border areas. The Army always has OP Officers deployed at its defensive positions and an FOO—who is an artillery representative—accompanies the assaulting troops to direct artillery fire when they are advancing to capture a location.

The mini UAVs will have a range varying from 15-20 km to 75-90 km with matching endurance and will be employed for engagement of targets in tactical and depth areas.

Earlier this year, medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs such as the Herons and Searchers with the Regiment of Artillery were transferred to the Army Aviation Corps.

Last year, the artillery regiment also ordered an unspecified number of loitering munitions under the fast-track procedure from a joint venture firm of an Indian and a foreign manufacturer.

The loitering munitions—which are unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs)—can loiter in the air and close on the designated target and attack it by self-destructing onto it when directed. They are expected to arrive soon, the sources said.

Deliveries of the precision-strike loitering munitions, which are relatively smaller and cheaper explosive-armed kamikaze drones that wait to select high-value enemy targets and then crash into them, are set to begin under an emergency procurement contract inked with an Israeli-Indian private joint venture last year.

The launchers of the loitering munition can be protected passively and actively as well—including camouflage concealment, shoot and scoot mechanism, and air defence protection, among others.

The Army has received responses from the Indian industry and several firms have expressed their capability to manufacture the weapon system, said the sources, adding that in future India can develop self-reliance and graduate as a global leader in the loitering munition technology.

After the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, the deadly effect of loitering munitions or autonomous missiles has been reinforced by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. Ukrainians have used Switchblade 300 and Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions supplied by the US as well as locally assembled weapons to stem Russian advances.

K9 Vajra Guns

The Army is now looking to induct another 100 K-9 Vajra guns, which have a strike range of 28-38 km, from the joint venture between L&T and South Korean Hanwha Defence. One K-9 regiment with ‘winterisation kits’ has already been deployed in eastern Ladakh from the 100 such 155mm/52-caliber guns inducted earlier for Rs 4,366 crore.

The K-9 guns were originally procured for deserts. But after the Chinese incursions in May 2020, they have been modified to ensure their batteries, oil, lubricants and other systems do not freeze in sub-zero temperatures. The next 100 K-9 guns will come with winterised kits.

The K9 Vajra, compliments and adds a punch while operating alongside tanks since it’s a tracked self propelled gun. For this reason, it was deployed in Ladakh along with armour.

Pinaka

Induction of indigenous Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket systems, with a strike range of 38-km, have also added more muscle along the frontier. With DRDO developing a variety of ammunition for the Pinaka, including rockets with over 45-km extended range and 75-km guided extended range, six more Pinaka regiments for Rs 2,580 crore will be delivered to the Army to add to its existing four. The Army also has three Smerch and five Grad rocket regiments of Russian-origin.

Pinaka is an all-weather, artillery-multi-barrel rocket system. It can fire 72 rockets in 44 seconds. It delivers a devastatingly lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets such as exposed enemy troops, armoured and soft skin vehicles, communication centres, air terminal complexes, fuel and ammunition dumps.

M777 Howitzers

The M-777 howitzers can be swiftly airlifted to forward areas. The bulk of the 145 guns ordered for over Rs 5,000 crore from the US have also been inducted along the LAC. The seventh regiment of these howitzers, with a strike range of 30-km, is now also been operationalized.

The seventh regiment of M777 howitzers is in the process of the being raised. The 155mm, 39-calibre towed artillery guns can be airlifted by the Chinook helicopters at a short notice.. Helipads for the Chinook helicopters are being constructed at all forward posts in the northeast for the quick movement of troops and equipment.

ATAGS

Then there are the home-grown 155mm/52 caliber advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS), with a maximum strike range of 48-km, developed by DRDO with production partners Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge.

After successful winter and summer firing trials, the ATAGS is now undergoing environment and maintainability tests slated for completion in another two months. Commercial negotiations will then follow for the initial order for 150 guns at an estimated cost of Rs 3,365 crore to be split between Tata and Bharat Forge.

ATAGS is a robust indigenous system. The orders for ATAGS will only go up because the Army has a long-term requirement for 1,580 such guns.

Radars

Additionally, the indigenous weapon locating radar Swathi has been inducted and deployed along the northern borders. A counter-battery radar designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire, Swathi can assess the point of origin for counter bombing. The radar is similar to ANTPQ-37 radar, which has been in use with the Army in design and performance but is said to be more user friendly.

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Apart from the ingeniously made Dhanush and Sharang, the Army is procuring K-9 Vajra and M-777 ultra-light howitzers from Korea and US, respectively. The Advanced Towed Artillery Guns Systems (ATAGS), an advanced version, is being developed indigenously too. However, the shells that are fired from these guns are hardly being ordered by the armed forces. Shells of 155 mm caliber are fed into such guns and ordnance factories have been the supplier over the years.

After corporatization of ordnance factories, manufacture of shells comes under Nagpur-based PSU Yantra India Limited (YIL). Over the years, 155 mm and 105 mm shells were the mainstay products of the ordnance factory at Ambajhari, which is now a key unit of YIL. With defence minister Rajnath Singh on a visit to the factory during his Nagpur tour on Sunday, it is expected that this matter will be taken up before him.

If negligible orders are worrying the corporation, there is also a ray of hope for YIL. It is learnt that lately an advanced country has shown interest in buying over a lakh shells of the 155 mm caliber from the company. Negotiations are at an advanced stage. If the deal works out, this would be the highest-ever order of 155mm shells that the factories have got so far. Before stopping the orders altogether, the erstwhile factory used to get yearly indents for making 50,000 to 60,000 shells of 155mm caliber. The advanced country’s order is expected to be double this.

Apart from this, 105 mm shells were also made for the Indian Field Guns. There are negligible orders for 105 mm shells also, said sources. YIL needs to beef up its turnover to attain financial sustainability which is needed for a PSU. Sources said the company’s order book should be in the range of Rs Rs 2,800 to Rs Rs 3,000 crore for reaching a scale that can leave a surplus. During the first year of corporatization, it was around Rs Rs 1,200 crore. This year it is expected to be around Rs Rs 2,100 crore, which includes orders from the railways.

Deliveries lag behind payments

Post corporatization, the seven PSUs carved out of the ordnance factories were allotted funds proportionate to 60% of their orders. This was an advance to meet working capital requirements. However, it has been recently pointed out by the Army to the department of defence production that deliveries are lagging as against the advance payment. As against advance, the deliveries stand at less than 50% of the target. The PSUs have been asked to give a clarification, said sources.

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The supply of conventional weapon systems, fighter aircraft, destroyers and even the inclination to give DF-17 hypersonic missile to counter India’s latest acquisition, the S-400 air defence system, are all part of Beijing long strategy to keep Rawalpindi GHQ in a state of permanent confrontation with India. This strategy has paid dividends to Beijing regime in the past as forces India to remain alert on its western border with a power that boxes much above its weight category due to heavy lift from China, be it in international fora or in military or nuclear parity. The role played by Beijing in developing Pakistan into a nuclear state along with the covert supply of delivery systems since 1990s is all well documented.

According to reports, Pakistan in 2019 signed a contract with Chinese arms major NORINCO to supply 236 SH-15 155 mm vehicle mounted howitzers apart from AR-1 heavy rocket launchers. In addition to artillery, the contract also includes supply and technology transfer for various ammunition including extended range artillery shells and guided artillery shells with the range of 53 kilometers. Clearly, this supply is to boost the firepower of Pakistan army all along the western border, specially to heat up the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in case the existing ceasefire breaks down or to send a message on Kashmir.

The reported supply of DF-17 mobile, solid fueled medium range ballistic missile by China to Pakistan is to pump up Rawalpindi’s ballistic missile system as the hypersonic missile is difficult to track by most existing radars and equally difficult to engage by existing surface to air missile systems including S-400 system. Mounted on a hypersonic glide vehicle, the DF-17 is said to have a combination of maneuverability and high speed that poses significant challenges to conventional missile defence. China has tested the DF-17 missile at least nine times since 2014 and is said to have 1950 km range with a speed of at least five times that of sound or Mach 5.

While India also tested its scramjet powered Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Cruise Vehicle (HSTDV) on September 7, 2020 for launch of hypersonic missiles, the Chinese supply will clearly force Defence Research and Development Organization to speed up the indigenous project.

Keeping Pakistan under its wing for strategic purposes and reach to Arabian Sea, China has not only supplied arms to Rawalpindi but has played a spoiler to India’s entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group and has gone to the extent of trying innocent Indians working in Afghanistan listed as global terrorists before the 1267 committee. It routinely sides with Pakistan in the UN over Kashmir and vetoes any attempt to list known pan-Islamic jihadi groups or their leaders as terrorists by the UNSC.

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