Lurkingn this news since last one year in twitter, but no significant progress visible since.
Its better to increas the order to above 1000 along with loader vehicle. You need loader vehicle to utilize the full potential of k9. Comes handy both in desert of western region & ladakh.
If the requirements are that large (which they actually are but the Army is obviously ignorant here) then restart Bhim. Why pay South Korea commission for every vehicle.
If i am not wrong Bhim was rejected IA. Why do you want army to induct a thing which rejected earlier? Let them have whatever they feels suits their requirements. They are the one who gonna fight at border, protect the border by tossing their own life.
We did similar thing in past with Biho too. IA shortlisted Biho over Pantsir , but vested interest want them to induct Pantsir. Ultimately IA didn't get a mobile SAM system.
Something rejected earlier can still be a base for something new and more promising right?
And it's not like K9 is the best system out there.
And with BF & Tata also into manufacturing of howitzers, why not provide them with a T72 or Arjun chassis and see what they can come up with.
Why pay a premium and still be dependent on South Korea. All the modifications for K9 operations in Himalayas were done with South Koreans in the loop.
Why keep an unreliable country in a loop for such a strategic asset.
Does the 78 or other army units still operate this?
Perfect for transfer to border units like bsf & itbp.
Perfect for transfer to border units like bsf & itbp.
Without good training & years of hands on experience with it, won't be useful the way like Army uses it in proper ragtag way. Border units are sort of foot soldiers patrol party for the most part of the other regions. Need to raise dedicated units within under army command, could even transfer retired ex arty personnel to form ranks maybe ?
they look good. It's a shame that their development will stall out since IA and MoD look keen to order Stryker and Atmos instead.
ATAGS is not as expensive as I was expecting. It would cost 15 crore per gun. Dhanush cost the same in 2016.
One thing Ukrainian war has shown is that towed artillery are slow & way to vulnerable to counter battery fire & drone attacks in modern warfare where situational awareness levels are off the charts......... Investing on Track Artillery platforms like K 9 is the way forward.... Wheeled Artillery while good are not practical for unpaved roads.
Ukraine & Russia are both failing to deploy a coherent force. Untill our Army is planning to fight in bits and pieces like them, the towed artillery has immense importance.