India Artillery 2012_defence Iq

Table of contents

Future Artillery India 2012 26 – 28 June

www.futureartilleryindia.com

Content Page

About the research 3

India: A world leader 4

Artillery today, for mountain war tomorrow 8

Training and technology 11

Future Artillery India 2012 14

About Defence IQ 15

Page 2

http://www.futureartilleryindia.com/

About the research

This information pack has been collated from exclusive content from www.defenceiq.com

as well as data from a report of the future artillery market, which surveyed 120 senior

executives and professionals within the artillery domain. The analysis of the survey data

has been supplemented with proprietary interviews and desktop research.

Topics examined include; which capabilities the military will prioritise as it increasingly

embarks on urban, complex and dispersed operations, how militaries can achieve

greater precision, the changing nature of training scenarios as well as looking into which

regions are being targeted as emerging growth markets.

Figure 1 shows that the

US and UK make up a

significant portion of

total respondents.

However, the emerging

BRIC nations are also

well represented with

India and Brazil

accounting for 14% of

all respondents.

Answers were sourced

from nations all over

the globe including

Russia, UAE,

Singapore, Germany,

Israel and Australia. In

all, respondents were

derived from 35

nations.

21%

15%

8%

6% 5% 3%

3% 2%

2%

35%

FIGURE 1: Overview of respondent by nationality

USA

UK

India

Brazil

Netherlands

Argentina

Turkey

Australia

France

Other

Page 3



http://www.defenceiq.com/


India: A world leader

The market with the most growth potential in the artillery space over the next ten years is

India according to 72% of respondents. Together with China it stands out as a key target

market for the future; however with even China lagging 14% behind, there can be no

doubt where respondents expect to gain the most traction over the next decade: India.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

India

China

Pakistan

USA

Israel

Brazil

Other Middle East

Turkey

UAE

Europe (East)

Other Asia-Pacific

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Africa

Europe (West)

Other South America

Australia

South Africa

FIGURE 2: Summary of key global growth markets

2012 - 2022

Page 4




23%

24%

20%

36%

12%

56%

15%

5%

7%

26%

54%

41%

42%

48%

53%

22%

33%

22%

44%

50%

23%

34%

37%

16%

35%

22%

52%

73%

49%

24%

Air-land integration

Capability to intercept rockets, mortar and artillery

Digital targeting

Interoperability with other systems and Coalition forces

Forward Observer technological advances

Futuristic weaponry – i.e. electronic powered artillery

Precision of munitions

Range

Transportability and mobility of artillery

Cost! Capability shouldn’t be prioritised, cost should

FIGURE 3: Analysis of key capabilities for India to prioritise

Low priority Medium priority High priority

While China’s ambitions and wealth are undoubtedly accelerating, the question remains

how to penetrate this market and take advantage of the country’s growing economy and

military might. China is arguably a bigger market than India and before conducting this

survey we may have expected the results for India and China to have been the other way

around. However, respondents have clearly shown that while China may spend more

money on defence over the next ten years, India is a far more accessible market and the

one in which industry can gain the most traction. This may change once the EU and US

embargos are lifted however, but it remains to be seen when and if this will come into

effect.

The positioning of Pakistan as the region offering the third highest potential for growth

over the next ten years is interesting. That India, China and Pakistan make up the top

three is also rather telling. Tensions in the region are high with India wedged in between

its two fierce rivals. The results from Figure 2 indicate this tension is unlikely to ease in

the medium term.

Page 5




“The IED will be

the focal point for

any future conflicts;

the IED is the

artillery of the 21st

Century.”

Lieutenant General Michael Barbero,

Joint IED Defeat Organisation,

U.S. DoD

Just looking at the Indian respondents (which Figure 1 shows is 8% of the total), they all

indicated that cost was either a low or medium priority, which is perhaps surprising

considering India’s renown for squeezing value out of its equipment, often favouring the

cheaper tenders it’s presented with. This suggests one of two things; either artillery

procurement is a priority for India and will be acquired regardless of cost, or artillery

system expenditure is considered to be relatively low-level and spiraling outlays are not a

common occurrence.

How important is India’s acquisition of artillery in the context of its major security and

defence infrastructure upgrade?

In November 2011 A.K. Anthony, the Indian Defence Minister, made a statement to

Parliament outlining both the reason for the country’s notorious lack of new gun

acquisition, and its near obsession with staying on top of military technology

developments as it continues to highlight concerns over bordering rival powers.

"Arms and equipment

including gun systems in the

Indian artillery are available

in adequate quantity,” said

Anthony. “[However]

modernisation of artillery,

which entails replacement of

the equipment of older

technology, is an on-going

process and is being given

priority to ensure that the

artillery remains equipped

with modern weapons

systems," he said.

The answer really depends

on how the tense relationship

with China and Pakistan

plays out. Respondents were

quick to point out that border

security is a critical concern

for India as it continues to

brace against pressure from

East and West.

Page 6




“Regardless of any other

weaponry, if you’ve got

a lot of artillery you

don’t need to worry

about not having an

affect.” Brigadier Ben Barry,

Senior Fellow for Land Warfare,

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

Although the country recently announced that it will buy 126 Rafale Medium Multi-Role

Combat Aircraft from France’s Dassault, this expenditure will certainly not be over and

above its Land and Sea requirements. India is not an expeditionary force, but it does

have vast borders and hostile neighbours. Border security is India’s primary issue;

acquiring the appropriate artillery systems, and plenty of them, will continue to be a high

priority over the next decade.

Over the last 12 months the Indian armed forces has floated tenders for 1,580 155mm 53

calibre towed guns, 100 further 155mm 52 calibre tracked guns, 180 155mm 52 calibre

wheeled and self-propelled guns, and 145 155mm 39 calibre ultra-light howitzers,

running into a total cost of several billion pounds.

Page 7




Page 8

Artillery today for mountain

war tomorrow

The last major acquisition of towed gun-

howitzers was that of about 400 pieces

of 39-calibre 155mm FH-77B howitzers

with a range of 30 km from Bofors of

Sweden in the mid-1980s. Though the

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued

several global tenders to revive long-

delayed plans to modernise the Indian

artillery, for one reason or the other, the

acquisition process has not made much

headway.

Since the Bofors 155mm Howitzer was

introduced into service, the indigenously

designed and manufactured 105 mm

Indian Field Gun (IFG) and its light

version, the Light Field Gun (LFG), have

also joined the list of guns and howitzers

heading for obsolescence.

Approximately 180 pieces of 130mm

M46 Russian medium guns have

been “up-gunned” to 155mm calibre with



ordnance supplied by Soltam of

Israel. The new barrel length of 45-

calibres has enhanced the range of the

gun to about 40 km with extended range

ammunition.

Despite the lessons learnt during the Kargil conflict about the

battle winning role played by firepower in modern wars,

modernisation plans for the Indian Regiment of Artillery have

been stagnating for too long.

An article by Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Ret.), former Director of the Centre

for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi.

Brig. Gurmeet Kanwal (Ret.)


Page 9

The probability of the next conventional

war breaking out in the mountains is far

higher than that of a war in the plains.

With this in view, the artillery recently

conceptualised a requirement for an

ultra light-weight towed howitzer of

155mm calibre for employment in the

mountains. In January 2008, the MoD

had floated a Request for Proposal (RfP)

for 145 pieces of ultra-light 155mm

towed howitzers for use by the Indian

Army’s mountain formations. 145

howitzers will equip seven medium

artillery regiments and will cost

approximately Rs 3,000 crore. This

howitzer, manufactured by BAE

Systems, has been trail evaluated and is

likely to be acquired through the direct

Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route from

the US government.

The MoD has floated a global tender for

the purchase of 180 wheeled self-

propelled 155mm guns for around Rs

4,700 crore for employment by

mechanised forces in the plains and

semi-desert sectors. An RfP has also

been issued for 400 155mm towed

artillery guns for the artillery, to be

followed by the indigenous manufacture

of another 1,100 howitzers, in a project

worth approximately Rs 8,000 crore. The

RfP was originally issued to eight

prospective bidders including BAE,

General Dynamics, Nexter (France),

Rheinmetall (Germany) and Samsung

(South Korea).



Indigenous efforts to manufacture

155mm howitzers include that by the

Ordnance Factories Board to produce a

45-calibre 155mm howitzer based on the

designs for which Transfer of

Technology (ToT) was obtained from

Bofors in the 1980s, but not utilised. It

has been reported that the Defence

Acquisition Council has approved a

proposal for the OFB to manufacture 414

howitzers of 45-calibre provided the

prototypes successfully meet the army’s

GSQR in user trials. Meanwhile, the

DRDO has embarked on its own venture

to design and develop a 155mm

howitzer in partnership with a private

sector company. Bharat Forge is one

company that is known to be interested

in the indigenous design and

development of modern artillery

systems.

There has been notable progress on the

rocket artillery front. A contract for the

acquisition of three regiments of the 12-

tube, 300mm Smerch multi-barrel rocket

launcher (MBRL) system with 90 km

range has been signed with Russia’s

Rosoboron export. This weapon system

is a major boost for the long-range

firepower capabilities of the army.

Extended range (ER) rockets are being

introduced for the 122 mm Grad MBRL

that has been in service for over three

decades. The ER rockets will enhance

the weapon system’s range from 22 to

about 40 km. A contract worth Rs 5,000


Page 10

crore has also been signed for two

regiments of the 12-tube Pinaka MBRL

weapon system, developed by the

DRDO, Larsen and Toubro and the

Tatas. The 214mm Pinaka rockets will

have an approximate range of 37 km.

Two more regiments of Pinaka MBRL

are likely to be added later.

Efforts are also underway to add ballistic

as well as cruise missiles to the artillery

arsenal. Two regiments of the BrahMos

supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8 to

3.0), with a precision strike capability,

very high kill energy and range of 290

km, have been inducted into the army.

Block-I and Block-II versions of the

missile have successfully completed

trials. It is a versatile missile that can be

launched from TATRA mobile launchers

and silos on land, aircraft and ships and,

perhaps in future, also from submarines.

50 BrahMos missiles are expected to be

produced every year. These terrain

hugging missiles are virtually immune to

counter measures due to their high

speed and very low radar cross section

and are far superior to sub-sonic cruise

missiles like Pakistan’s Babur. Two more

regiments of BrahMos are likely to be

inducted into service, including one

specially designed for effective target

engagement in the mountains.

Counter-bombardment capability is also

being upgraded, but at a slow pace. At

least about 40 to 50 weapon locating

radars (WLRs) are required for effective

counter-bombardment, especially in the

plains, but only a dozen have been

procured so far. In addition to the 12 AN-

TPQ 37 Firefinder WLRs acquired from

Raytheon, USA, under a 2002 contract

worth US $200 million, Bharat

Electronics Limited is reported to be

assembling 28 WLRs. The

modernisation plans of tube artillery

alone are likely to cost approximately Rs

15,000 crore. The “Shakti” project for

command and control systems for the

artillery, earlier called Artillery Combat

Command and Control System

(ACCCS), has successfully completed

user trials and is now being fielded

extensively. Gradually it will be fielded

up to the corps level and the two artillery

divisions will be equipped with it.

Despite the increasing obsolescence of

artillery guns, mortars and rocket

launchers, it has not been possible to

conclude contracts for their replacement.

The failure to modernise the Indian

artillery is likely to have adverse

repercussions for national security. If

there is any field of defence procurement

in which the government must make

haste, it is this one.

Training and technology

Although Figure 3 shows that cost shouldn’t be prioritised over capability, the fact

remains that the economic black hole will significantly affect defence equipment

procurement over the next decade, inclusive of artillery. In Figure 4 exactly half of all

respondents expect budget restrictions to be the critical factor that may dog artillery

advancement in the future, with the possible increased focus on air power the next most

significant factor (21%).

With just 10%, the change in warfighting strategies is not considered to be a threat to

future artillery. Although warzones are becoming more urban, respondents indicated that

the role of artillery will not significantly change through to 2022 and will still be a vital

component of military arsenals.

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

Budget restrictions

Focus on Air Power

Increased prevalence and impact of the cyberthreat against precision weapons

Significant change in warfighting strategies - i.e.COIN

Other

FIGURE 4: Analysis of the most significant threat to future artillery

advancement

Page 11




Precision munitions and artillery capabilities rely on a fully functional and efficient forward

observer resource to ensure accurate target location and operational mission planning.

How can FO management and efficiency be improved over the next decade?

35% of respondents indicated that advances in geographical location equipment will be

the most important factor for FO’s in the future, closely followed by network-centric

systems with 32%. The role of the FO has become an increasingly important one

recently and will continue to heighten in significance for military operations as

communications and other C4I technologies improve.

However, as these systems become increasingly complex and network-centric, the cyber

threat becomes decidedly more apparent too. Training will need to expand its reach in

order to combat the cyber threat in future, which is a point a significant number of

respondents were adamant upon.

Page 12

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

FIGURE 5: Summary of most significant factors for

Forward Observer improvement




Over half of all respondents (51%) said that immersive training and simulation would be

the most effective form of training over the next decade, pushing new mobile

technologies into second place (with 23%) and live exercises into third (21%).

While training is often a balance between the classroom, simulation and live exercises,

Major Tom Ellis, the training development advisor for the Royal Artillery, told Defence IQ

that “nothing is ever going to take away the requirement of live training.”

Ellis agrees with the 51% of respondents in that simulation is a very effective training tool

because it is available any time. However, it is perhaps surprising that the 21% who

identified live exercises as the most effective training method wasn’t higher since Ellis

affirms that “you must have a sound underpinning knowledge” of the equipment; you

cannot learn everything in a simulator. Looking at Figure 6 it is likely that the answers

have been provided in the context of the economic climate foremost in respondents'

thoughts since simulated training has significant cost benefits over live exercises.

Page 13

0%

20%

40%

60%

Joint excercises withcoalition forces

Mobile technology -i.e.use of iPads and

smartphones

Immersive trainingand simulation

Live excercises

FIGURE 6: Summary of the most effective factor to improve

artillery training programmes




Page 14

As India embarks upon the largest artillery modernisation drive in its history, Defence IQ’s Future

Artillery India conference brings together key military and industry stakeholders to examine

India’s current modernisation strategy. Now in its second year, Future Artillery India 2012

provides delegates with the rare opportunity to connect with the newly appointed Director General

Artillery, Lieutenant General Anjan Mukherjee, in addition to the decision making unit

responsible for future artillery procurement in India.



For more information, or to register, visit www.futureartilleryindia.com, email

[email protected], or call +44 (0) 20 7368 9737

The 2012 Speaker Faculty Features:

Lieutenant General Anjan Mukherjee, Director General, Directorate

Artillery, Indian Army

Major General Vikas Joshi, Additional Director General Directorate

Artillery, Indian Army

Lieutenant General J.P. Singh (Retd), Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff

Indian Army

Lieutenant General Vinod Nayanar (Retd), Former Director General

Directorate Artillery, Indian Army

Confirmed participation from Directorate Weapons & Equipment, Directorate Perspective

Planning, Directorate Financial Planning, Directorate Electrical Mechanical Engineers,

Electronics & Radar Department Establishment & Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory

1st opportunity to connect with the newly appointed Director General, Directorate Artillery,

Lieutenant General Anjan Mukherjee. Former Director General Financial Planning,

Lieutenant General Mukherjee will be giving the opening keynote address, outlining his

strategic plans for artillery procurement over the next decade

A whole day dedicated to discussing Indian ISTAR requirements, capabilities and

operational performance with Indian Subject Matter Experts and Contract Signatories

What’s new for 2012?



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Future Artillery 2012 27 – 29 March, London, UK

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Andrew Elwell is the editor of Defence IQ. He has previously worked as a

survivability specialist for a provider of ballistic and blast armour systems.

Andrew holds a BA in History and American Studies from the University of

Nottingham. He can be reached on [email protected].

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