| Dhanush | |
|---|---|
 The Dhanush in public display. | |
| Type | Towed howitzer |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | India |
| Used by | Indian Army |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ordnance Factory Board |
| Designed | 2010 |
| Manufacturer | Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (previously Ordnance Factory Board) |
| Unit cost | US$ 2.11 million (₹ 14 crore)[1] |
| Produced | 2015 onwards |
| No. built | 84[citation needed] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 13000 kg |
| Length | 45 Caliber |
| Crew | 6-8 |
|
| |
| Caliber | 155 mm (Compatible with all NATO 155mm ammunition system) |
| Action | Auto gun alignment and positioning |
| Breech | Screw type |
| Recoil | Electro-rheological/Magneto-rheological |
| Elevation | -3 to 70 degree |
| Traverse | ±30[2] |
| Rate of fire | Burst: 3 rounds in 15 sec - Intense: 15 rounds in 3 min - Sustained: 60 rounds in 60 min |
| Maximum firing range | 38 km.[3][4] |
| Sights | Thermal sight. Gunners display |
The Dhanush is a 155 mm towed howitzer manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board. The gun was approved for service in 2019.[5]
Development[]
The Dhanush project was started by OFB to replace the older 105 mm Indian Field Gun, 105 mm Light Field Gun and the Russian 122 mm guns with a modern 155 mm artillery gun. It is manufactured by OFB at its Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur.
The initial indigenous development of artillery guns in India started in the 1970s with the Artillery Gun Development Team under Brigadier Gurdyal Singh at Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur.[6] This resulted in the introduction of 105 mm artillery guns into the Indian Army.
The purchase of Haubits FH77 guns manufactured by Bofors in the 1980s included technology transfer to OFB. After many years being unable to acquire or import foreign artillery guns due to the corruption charges, OFB developed the Dhanush gun.
In trials it came out better by 20 to 25 percent than the Haubits FH77 in parameters like range, accuracy, consistency, low and high angle of fire and shoot-and-scoot ability.[7]
Three Dhanush guns were handed over to the Indian Army for user trials in July 2016.[8] Battery trials were expected to be completed by July 2017 with 18 guns entering service in 2017, 36 guns in 2018 and 60 guns in 2019, for an Indian Army order of 114 guns.[9] However, the Ordinance factory board hasn't delivered the first regiment of this gun as of 12th Aug 2021. Each regiment has 18 guns and two are reserved. They have an initial order of 114 guns to be executed. [10]
The Dhanush experienced a few problem during trials, failing on three occasions in a row in 2017.[11]
It was reported in July 2017 that the howitzer failed the last phase of testing, due to the shell hitting the muzzle brake. A redesign of the barrel by widening it was being considered to solve the issue.[12][13] Later an investigation revealed the incident happened due to a defective shell. Further trials were conducted by firing about 5000 shells in the desert regions and icy glaciers of the Himalayas without any incident. The gun is planned to enter service in four to five months.[14] In June 2018, Dhanush completed final development trials.[15] In February 2019, it was approved for series production.[16]
The gun was officially inducted by the army on 8 April 2019. 93 Field Regiment becoming one of the first units to be armed with this gun and had the honour to participate in the 71st Republic Day Parade and Army Day parade in 2020 with its new equipment.[17]
Variant[]
A vehicle mounted variant of the gun called Mounted Gun System was showcased by OFB at the Defexpo 2018 show. The gun is mounted on a 8x8 Tatra truck manufactured under license by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and has a 30 km/h cross country speed and 80 km/h road speed.[18]
Users[]
India: Indian Army - 114 units ordered, 12 delivered[19]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Indian Army to induct indigenous artillery gun Dhanush, first since the Bofors scandal
- ↑ Bedi, Rahul (9 April 2019). "Indian Army receives first six of 114 Dhanush howitzers". Jane's Defence Weekly. Jane's Information Group. https://www.janes.com/article/87786/indian-army-receives-first-six-of-114-dhanush-howitzers.
- ↑ Indian artillery guns make a splash at DefExpo
- ↑ N C Bipindra (2014-06-21). "'Dhanush' Ready after Final Trials in Pokhran". The New Indian Express. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/%E2%80%98Dhanush%E2%80%99-Ready-after-Final-Trials-in-Pokhran/2014/06/21/article2291439.ece.
- ↑ "Indian Artillery Gun Dhanush Fails Trials Thirce In Three Months". defenseworld.net. 16 August 2017. https://www.defenseworld.net/news/20268/Indian_Artillery_Gun_Dhanush_Fails_Trials_Thirce_In_Three_Months#.X4wq9sgzY2w.
- ↑ https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2019/4/8/Dhanush-artillery-gun.amp.html
- ↑ "Desi Bofors howitzer undergoes final trials in major boost to indigenization". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Desi-Bofors-howitzer-undergoes-final-trials-in-major-boost-to-indigenization/articleshow/36922267.cms.
- ↑ "Gun Carriage Factory hands over 3 'Dhanush' guns to Army" (in en-IN). 2016-07-17. ISSN 0971-751X. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gun-carriage-factory-hands-over-dhanush-guns-to-army/article8862254.ece.
- ↑ "Army to Induct 18 Dhanush Artillery Guns This Year" (in en-US). 2017-06-02. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-to-induct-18-dhanush-artillery-guns-this-year/article18709318.ece.
- ↑ "Indian Artillery Gun Dhanush Fails Trials Thirce In Three Months". defenseworld.net. 16 August 2017. https://www.defenseworld.net/news/20268/Indian_Artillery_Gun_Dhanush_Fails_Trials_Thirce_In_Three_Months#.X4wq9sgzY2w.
- ↑ "Why L&T is offering the Indian army a homegrown artillery gun". indiatoday.in. 12 August 2021. https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-l-t-is-offering-the-indian-army-a-homegrown-artillery-gun-1839576-2021-08-11?utm_source=twshare&utm_medium=socialicons&utm_campaign=shareurltracking.
- ↑ "Desi howitzer fails last phase of tests | India News - Times of India". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/desi-howitzer-fails-last-phase-of-tests/articleshow/59691394.cms.
- ↑ Arya, Shishir. "Made in India howitzer fails last phase of tests". http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/desi-howitzer-fails-last-phase-of-tests/articleshow/59694586.cms.
- ↑ "Shots on target, finally" (in en). The Week. https://www.theweek.in/theweek/specials/2018/04/27/shots-on-target-finally.html.
- ↑ "Dhanush artillery gun clears final test, ready for induction: Official". The Economic Times. The Times Group. 8 June 2018. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/dhanush-artillery-gun-clears-final-test-ready-for-induction-official/articleshow/64511167.cms.
- ↑ Bedi, Rahul (19 February 2019). "Indian MoD approves local production of 114 Dhanush howitzers". Jane's Defence Weekly. New Delhi. https://www.janes.com/article/86615/indian-mod-approves-local-production-of-114-dhanush-howitzers.
- ↑ ANI (2020-01-26). "India's military strength, cultural diversity at display during 71st Republic Day Parade". Business Standard India. https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-s-military-strength-cultural-diversity-at-display-during-71st-republic-day-parade-120012600440_1.html.
- ↑ "Defexpo 2018: OFB showcases 155 mm/52 calibre Mounted Gun System | Jane's 360". http://www.janes.com/article/79422/defexpo-2018-ofb-showcases-155-mm-52-calibre-mounted-gun-system.
- ↑ "Why L&T is offering the Indian army a homegrown artillery gun". India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-l-t-is-offering-the-indian-army-a-homegrown-artillery-gun-1839576-2021-08-11?utm_source=twshare&utm_medium=socialicons&utm_campaign=shareurltracking.
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