Modernisation Of Artillery: Bigger Bang For The Buck

‘Future battlefield will be characterised by short and intense engagements requiring integrated and coordinated employment of all fire power resources including precision and high lethality weapon systems in a hybrid warfare environment.’

- Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd)

Role of Indian Artillery

The artillery has always been a battle winning factor as it can shower death on the troops in the open and also destroy bunkers with deadly accuracy. This was clearly evident in Kargil where the Indian Artillery pulverized Pakistan bunkers, kept their heads down and made the task of assaulting Indian infantry easier.

Modernisation of Indian Artillery is based on the envisaged role in the current and future battle milieu. The role could be defined as the integrated and coordinated employment of all available firepower resources to shape the battlefield and to degrade the enemy in contact and in depth battle to achieve decisive victory of the enemy. The fire power could include all types of guns, mortars, missiles and where required the Indian Air Force.

Future battlefield. The future battlefield will be characterised by short and intense engagements; nonlinear battles; simultaneity of operations; increased battle field transparency; integrated and coordinated employment of all fire power resources including precision and high lethality weapon systems in a hybrid warfare environment. The battle will be fought under the shadow of a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare threat.

Artillery Rationalisation Plan 2000

There had been no acquisition of guns for the Indian Artillery since 1987 when the acquisition of 39-calibre 155mm FH77B howitzers from Sweden’s AB Bofors in 1987 got embroiled in kickbacks and corruption. This lead to large voids in fire power when on the other hand the war scenario visualised a two front war. This dictated that the strength of artillery should be such that it could support a two front war fought simultaneously.