DRDO to develop self-propelled artillery guns for army

New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has started developing an indigenous 155mm .52 calibre howitzer for the Indian Army,  a move prompted by the fact that the army has failed to induct similar artillery guns over the last 25 years.

The project will be undertaken by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a DRDO lab based in Pune, senior DRDO officials said. Other DRDO laboratories will also be involved in the programme with the ARDE acting as the lead agency.

ARDE was involved with the development of the Bhim self-propelled howitzer project about a decade back but the project was scrapped after South African firm Denel was blacklisted by the ministry.

As part of its over Rs20,000-crore artillery modernisation plan, the Army is looking at inducting several types of howitzers through inter-governmental pacts and global tenders.

The army presently uses a mix of 105mm field guns and 130mm and 155mm howitzers.