Antony to review indigenous artillery howitzers

New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony will on Saturday review progress of the work on two types of indigenous artillery howitzers being developed for the army by the Ordnance Factory Board at its facility in Jabalpur.During his one-day visit to Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, the defence minister will also visit the vehicle factory which manufactures trucks for the army.[caption id="attachment_464076" align="alignleft" width="380"] Defence Minister, AK Antony. Image courtesy PIB[/caption]The army, which has failed to induct even a single artillery gun in the last 25 years, is eagerly waiting for the indigenously manufactured guns which are being developed after the transfer of technology of the controversial Bofors guns. Recently, Antony had said the two types of howitzers for the army will be ready for trials by December and by June next year respectively.The clearance for the project was accorded by the defence ministry's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting in October last year granting permission to the Ordnance Factory Board to manufacture 155mm howitzers. Under the project, the OFB will manufacture two prototypes of 155mm 39 calibre FH-77-B02 guns and the upgraded version of 155 mm/45 calibre howitzers. The decision to allow the OFB to manufacture these guns was taken after the army failed in more than four attempts to modernise its artillery.The army has made several attempts to procure four types of howitzers, but all of them have failed due to one reason or the other. PTI