After A Two Decade Delay, India To Finally Get Its Howitzers

After consistently having failed to acquire howitzers following the Bofors scandal two decades ago, the Indian Army has placed orders for 100 artillery guns with the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). In the last two decades, the Army’s attempt to procure different types of howitzers has failed due to various political reasons in the country. "The Army has placed orders with the OFB for procuring one hundred 155mm 52 calibre howitzers and this will be developed on the basis of Transfer of Technology (ToT) done by Bofors," Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju was quoted as saying by The Press Trust of India. He said that the indigenous development of the howitzers would continue alongside trials by the OFB. Within a specific time frame, the guns would be delivered to the Army and that the program would not affect the OFB deal.