'India to get latest version of Bofors guns for trial'

LONDON , MARCH 29. The latest version of the 155 mm Bofors guns will be sent to India for extensive field trials on ``no-cost, no-commitment'' basis in May this year, Jane's Defence Weekly says in its latest issue.

According to the report, the Defence Ministry has accepted the Bofors Weapons Systems' offer to send for trials the 45-calibre Fh-77 Bd, a towed version of which is already in use with the Army and played a devastating role in the Kargil war.

India would invite a number of companies to demonstrate their 155 mm artillery systems in a bid to finalise its choice to meet the army's requirement of about 200 more field howitzers, the report says.

The Fh-77 Bd 6X6 self-propelled artillery system and French Giat industries' Caesar 6X6 155mm 52-calibre systems are seen as possible alternatives to the towed weapon systems.

Compared with conventional full-tracked, self-propelled artillery systems, these weapons would be cheaper to procure and maintain and offer greater strategic mobility.

The Bofors delivered 410 Fh-77bs to India from 1986 to 1990, but, following allegations of kickbacks, India froze plans to put the weapon into production and blacklisted the company.

However, the performance of the weapon system came in for praise during the Kargil conflict last summer, following which the ban was lifted and celcius Ab, which now makes the gun, offered to send the improved chassis-mounted version of the howitzer for field trials on no-cost, no commitment basis.

According to the weekly, the Fh-77 Bd is a further development of the prototype system, which mounts the elevating mechanism of the earlier version, Fh-77B 155 mm towed artillery system on a commercial 6X6 articulated all-terrain chassis.

This was originally developed as a private venture but was subsequently funded by the Swedish Defence Material Administration with two versions developed and tested by the Swedish Artillery School.

After the Kargil conflict, India placed contracts with the Bofors for vital spare parts for the old Bofors gun.

A 155 mm/57-calibre barrel is planned for the production systems.

The 30-tonne Fh-77Bd has a maximum road speed of 65 km per hour and a road range of 500 km.

`Pak. displayed upgraded battle tanks'

The Pakistan army has displayed for the first time a prototype of the Al Zarrar (striker), an upgraded type 59 main battle tank (MBT) during its recent national day parade, Jane's Defence Weekly reports.

- PTI

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