BAE Systems To Bid For Indian Army 140 155mm Howitzers Contract
Dated 14/3/2008
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BAE Systems and Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics are to submit bids by 7 April to supply the Indian Army with 140 ultra-light 155 mm/39 cal howitzers. However, the two systems are not scheduled to enter trials until 2009, when they will be tested in the Rajasthan desert and at high altitudes.
Representatives from both companies have told Jane's that they were negotiating collaborative agreements with local companies to jointly build the howitzers under licence and satisfy the mandatory offset obligation of 30 per cent of the overall contract value. BAE Systems is offering its M777 155 mm/39 cal towed howitzer, which weighs less than 4,220 kg. ST's rival Pegasus 155 mm/39 cal lightweight howitzer weighs 5,400 kg.
The M777 howitzer is a towed artillery piece developed by British Vickers group, and is produced by BAE Systems Land Systems in the US. It is in the process of replacing the M198 howitzer in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army service by 2010. The M777 is also being used by the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, and has been used in action in Afghanistan along with the associated GPS-guided "Excalibur" ammunition. It is also being assessed in trials by the British Army as a candidate for replacing the L118 Light Gun in some Regiments.
Specifications
* Length:
o 30.4 ft (9275 mm) in tow
o 33.5 ft (10210 mm) firing mode
* Width:
o 9.1 ft (2770 mm) in tow
o 12.2 ft (3720 mm) firing mode
* Height: 7.4 ft (2260 mm) in tow
* Barrel life: 2650 firings
* Maximum effective range:
o conventional ammunition (unassisted): 24.7 km,
o rocket-assisted projectile: 30 km,
* Rate of fire:
o 5 round/min, rapid
o 2 round/min, sustained