Battle ready: Dhanush artillery gun clears final trials

Battle ready: Dhanush artillery gun clears final trials

News:

1. The indigenously upgraded artillery gun Dhanush has successfully completed final user trials and is ready for induction into the Army.

Important facts:

2.This was third and final phase of user exploitation firings in which six Dhanush guns were fired in battery formulation at the Pokhran field firing range.

3.The first phase of trials was conducted between July and September 2016.

4.The second phase was conducted between October and December 2016 at the Siachen base camp with three guns.

5.A total of 1,520 rounds have been fired in all the three phases.

6.Dhanush:

• Dhanush is an upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured by India in the mid -1980’s.
• With this test, Dhanush artillery gun has been tested in all terrains.
• It is also called desi Bofors.
• It is 155mm x 45mm calibre artillery gun. It has been developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata based on requirements of Indian Army and manuanufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory (GCF).

7.Next step:

• The next step was completion of general staff (GS) evaluation after which Bulk Production Clearance (BPC) will be accorded.
• The Ordnance Factory Board, OFB  has an indent from the Army for 114 guns and will start supplying the guns on receipt of the BPC.
• The OFB has already supplied six guns for battery firing during the user trials.
• Another 12 guns will be issued within a year on receipt of the BPC.
• The entire order of 114 guns is to be delivered within four years.
• As of now, the gun has over 80% indigenous content.
• The imported systems include the power pack, parts of the electronic suite, and some seals and bearings.