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The Indian Defence will soon get a lift with the inclusion of indigenously designed, developed and manufactured Dhanushya - bringing an end to a 30-year wait to include a new artillery gun in the military warfare.
Speaking from the dias of a seminar on Aerospace and Defence at the 8th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on Thursday, the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated that soon a new artillery gun will be introduced to the Indian Defence, adding a strength to it.
"After more than 30 years, India has successfully developed its own artillery gun. No new artillery gun had been introduced since 30 years. First time we have successfully developed and tested it. The field trials have been completed for Dhanushya, which has 155 mmx45 calibre," Parrikar told the audience here.
"It is based on the concept of Bofors gun, which was of 155mm and 39 calibre, this one is 155 mmx45 calibre having higher range than the previous one. Successful trials are conducted. We have already asked them to start manufacturing it," Parrikar said.
Another self-propelled artillery gun with 155x52 calibre is in the final stage of order. A joint-venture between L&T and Samsung of South Korea is making it. "It has more than 50 per cent of the components made in India. The first lot probably will be ordered during the current financial year," he added.
Parrikar highlighted the benefits under the new Defence Procurement Procedures, in which the most important type of procurement is indegenously designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) products.
"This shows the importance of a change in mind-set of the procurement procedures. It is not only make in India but it is also designed, developed and made in India. So it is a step ahead than the Make In India," he said.
Commenting on the Defence Offset procedures, Parrikar stated that with relaxed licensing procedures, the offsets are now piling up at a faster pace. "There is almost more than $ 8 billion and very soon it is likely to touch $ 10-12 billion in next 10 years," he told the gathering.
The number of licenses issued under the offset procedures are huge and about 20 of them are in Gujarat. Parrikar further stated that Gujarat had a potential to become a defence manufacturing hub with forward-looking policies and ease-of-doing approach for businesses.
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