Artillery Guns for New Weapons

Despite the increasing obsolescence of artillery guns, mortars and rocket launchers, no contract has so far been concluded for their replacement even though protracted trials of several 155mm howitzers were carried out over the last few years.

In view of the nuclear shadow under which the next conflict will be fought, offensive and defensive manoeuvres will be extremely limited. Consequently, it will be necessary to generate firepower asymmetries to destroy the adversary’s war waging potential. In such a scenario, the failure to modernise the Indian artillery will have serious repercussions for national security.

Hence, it is extremely heartening to note that in January 2008 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) began to make long-awaited amends by issuing requests for Proposals (RFP) for various types of 155mm howitzers.

In the post-Kargil 1999 scenario in the Indian sub-continent, the artillery has proved to be a decisive arm. Indeed, even a battle-winning one.

It was clear to all perceptive observers who followed the Kargil conflict closely that infantry soldiers had to repeatedly attack uphill to recapture the mountaintops at Kargil taken quietly by the Pakistan army.

It was actually the artillery that had paved the way for victory. The Indian Army deployed an overwhelming superiority of its concentrated firepower, and that enabled the infantry attacks to be launched for repossessing the lost territory. Operationally, the Army also used the opportunity to test and fine-tune the indigenously-developed Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs).

The Indian Army has approved the 155mm howitzer as the standard artillery caliber, but new, modern systems are yet to be acquired to replace the old units and augment the strength to requirement. Precision-guided 155mm artillery shells can destroy bunkers, bridges and small buildings with a single-shot kill probability (SSKP) as high as 80 percent.

Improved conventional munition (ICMs) shells carrying anti-personnel grenades and lethal “air-burst” ammunition can be “dispensed” over soft targets such as administrative bases, rations and fuel-storage dumps, headquarters and rest areas. When these are available in large quantities, the artillery can cause much greater destruction and indirectly reduce the number of casualties in the infantry.

Approximately 400 FH-77B 155mm guns that proved their combat superiority in the Kargil conflict, had been purchased in the mid-1980s from Bofors of Sweden to equip 20 medium-artillery regiments.

These guns had enhanced the effectiveness of the artillery by an order of magnitude. Notably, the 105mm Indian field guns and the older 130mm Russian medium guns in service since the early 1970s have reached an advanced stage of obsolescence; while World War II vintage 25 pounders, 75/24 Indian mountain guns, 122mm field guns and 100mm field guns have already been phased out of service.

In the recent years, just when a contract for 120 tracked and 180 wheeled self-propelled (SP) 155mm guns was about to be concluded after years of repeated trials, South African arms manufacturer Denel, the leading contender for the contract, was alleged to have been involved in a corruption scam in an earlier deal for Anti-Material Rifles (AMRs). New tenders have now been floated.

FROM FIRE SUPPORT TO DESTRUCTION

From its original status as a “supporting” arm, artillery has now graduated to a full-fledged combat arm that dominates the battlefield with its inherently destructive firepower. In the classic “fire and manoeuvre” tactics practised during operations on 20th century battlefields, artillery traditionally provided the firepower punch while armoured, mechanised and infantry units manoeuvred to gain tactical advantage.

Artillery engagements were generally limited to the battle where own troops were in direct contact with the enemy. “Covering fire” during attack and “defensive fire” to beat back enemy attacks were provided in a supporting role.

Artillery guns, mortars and rocket launchers were considered area weapons and the neutralisation of large areas of ground with inherent dispersion of fire, rather than destruction, was the established primary task.

Today, once a threat from across the borders has been discerned, the artillery, firing 155mm precision strike ammunition can be employed to destroy the intruding forces quickly so that the aggression can be vacated and sanctity of the international boundary restored.

Targets that can be seen by the troops in contact with the enemy can be illuminated by a Laser beam by a ground-based artillery observer (spotter) carrying a Laser Target Designator. Those targets that are behind crest lines and on reverse slopes can be designated by an airborne artillery observer in an army aviation helicopter or an Unarmed Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Improved conventional munitions (ICMs) shells carrying anti-personnel grenades and lethal “air-burst” ammunition can be “dispensed” over soft targets such as administrative bases, rations and fuel storage dumps, headquarters and rest areas. As these are not precision strike munitions, these have to be accurately directed using commando artillery observers or TV camera equipped UAVs to achieve the desired effect.

Precision munitions are expensive, but they turn out to be cheaper as only a few have to be used to destroy designated targets. Plus, they offer the advantage of Assured Kill, making operations that much easier and also saving lives that would otherwise be lost in an assault.

Long-range MBRLs such as Smerch can enable the enemy’s sensitive command centres to be hit with impunity.

Had Smerch MBRLs been available during the Kargil conflict, the Pakistani HQ and administrative base at Skardu and other targets deep inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) would have been hit with devastating results.

Other force multipliers include Gun or Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs) for effective counter-bombardment, UAVs equipped with TV cameras and suitable for high altitude operations for target acquisition and engagement and damage assessment, powerful binoculars for target engagement by day and long-range night vision devices for the same purpose at night.

The Indian Army had in fact requested for the Gun Locating Radars in the mid-1980s, but their acquisition was approved by the Government only after the Kargil conflict, in which a majority of the Indian casualties were due to the Pakistani artillery, which Indian forces could not detect and therefore could not neutralize effectively. Now, the Army has taken delivery of a dozen radars from the US arms major Raytheon under a government-togovernment contract. More of these radars are to be made in India as required.

The Indian artillery is playing an increasingly important role in the successful execution of integrated land-air operations on the modern battlefield.

The emerging philosophy of employment of artillery firepower visualises the synergetic orchestration of all firepower resources across the length and breadth of the battlefield to cause destruction, systematic degradation of the enemy’s fighting potential and suppression of specific combat echelons of the enemy from operating effectively for limited durations.

The latter function will include the suppression of the enemy’s air defence (SEAD) assets to enable own attack helicopters to operate freely and to also enable ground attack aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to launch strike missions successfully.

In offensive operations on the future battlefield, the artillery will launch fire assaults or “attack by firepower ” in conjunction with other combat echelons to shape the battlefield and, ultimately, create suitable conditions for the decisive defeat of the enemy.

In defensive operations, artillery firepower will be the primary means of breaking up the enemy’s assault before it can be delivered against a defended locality. In fact, with the long reach of its missiles, rockets and medium guns, artillery firepower will systematically degrade the enemy’s preparations for the attack from the concentration area onwards.

The concentrated application of massed artillery firepower will disrupt the enemy’s cohesion and ultimately break his will to fight. The need for superior weapon systems and effective neutralization of an enemy is well understood.

With its ever-increasing range and lethality, the artillery is now capable of simultaneously fighting the contact, intermediate and deep battles.

Its nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles such as Agni will guarantee India’s nuclear deterrence.

Its conventionally armed ballistic missiles such as Prithvi and long-range rockets like Smerch (when introduced into service) will influence the final outcome of a battle.

In short, the integrated and synergetic application of artillery firepower at the point of decision will ensure victory and reduce the Army’s casualties. The artillery will be a coequal partner with the manoeuvre arms in the successful execution of firepower.

Modern guns and rockets are essential in this approach, and of course, needed without further delay.

MODERNISATION PLANS

Though no requirement for lightweight 155mm howitzers had been visualised even five years ago, clearly this belated recognition is a step in the right direction as there is a very high probability that the next conventional conflict along India’s borders will again break out and will be fought primarily in the Himalayan region – where heavier 155mm guns with a barrel length of 45 or 52 calibres cannot be easily deployed or side-stepped from one sector to another.

In January 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 140 pieces of ultra-light 39 calibre 155mm towed howitzers for use by the Indian Army’s mountain formations and, presumably, by its rapid reaction divisions – as and when these are raised as it will be easy to transport by heavy lift helicopters or aircraft.

140 howitzers will be adequate to equip seven medium artillery regiments and will cost much less than USD one billion. The RFP has been reportedly issued to UK’s BAE Systems (which now owns Bofors), for the M777 howitzer claimed to be the lightest in the world at under 4,220 kg, and to Singapore Technologies for the Pegasus SLWH.

India has floated a global tender for the purchase of 400 155mm towed artillery guns for the Army, to be followed by indigenous manufacture of another 1,100 howitzers, in a project worth a whopping USD two billion. The RFP was issued to eight prospective bidders including the BAE, General Dynamics, Nexter (France), Rhinemetall (Germany) and Samsung (South Korea).

An RFP has also been issued for 180 wheeled self-propelled guns to cost more than $ one billion for employment by mechanised forces in the plains and semi-desert sectors.

Since the Bofors 155mm Howitzer was introduced into service, the indigenously designed and manufactured 105 mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) and its (not so) light version, the Light Field Gun (LFG), have joined the 75/24 Indian Mountain Gun, the 100mm Russian field gun and the 122mm Russian howitzer on the obsolescence list.

Approximately 180 pieces of 130mm M46 Russian medium guns have been successfully “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.

A contract for the acquisition of two regiments of the 12-tube, 300mm Smerch multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system with 90 km range was reported to have been signed with Russia’s Rosoboronexport in early-2006.

This will be a major boost for the long-range firepower capabilities of the army.

If this weapon system had been available during the Kargil conflict, Pakistan’s brigade HQ and forward airfield at Skardu and other targets deep inside POK could have been hit with impunity.

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 Rs 5,000 crore contract has also been signed for the serial production of the Pinaka MBRL weapon system, a DRDO project plagued by time delays but now handed over to two companies, Larsen and Toubro and the Tatas, for serial production.

The modernisation plan of tube artillery alone is likely to cost more than $ three billion. The major acquisitions will be of initial lots of 400 towed howitzers of 155mm calibre, with a barrel length of 52 calibre, costing about $ one billion, 140 ultra-light weight 155mm towed howitzers, with a barrel length of 45 calibres, costing under $ one billion, and 180 SP 155mm howitzers costing around 1.24 billion.

The “Shakti” project for a command and control systems for the artillery, called Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS), has reached the stage of maturity and is now being fielded up to the regimental level.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8 to 3.0), with a precision strike capability, very high kill kinetic energy and range of 290 km, was inducted into the army in July 2007.

It is a versatile missile that can be launched from TATRA mobile launchers and silos on land, rail, aircraft and ships and, perhaps in future, also from submarines. 50 BrahMos missiles are expected to be produced every year.

Efforts are underway to further increase its strike range. BrahMos Aerospace has orders worth around $ one billion from the army and navy, which has opted for the anti-ship as well as the land attack cruise missile (LACM) versions.

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.

Chile, Kuwait, Malaysia and South Africa have shown interest in acquiring this missile.

The Regiment of artillery is now a battle-winning arm on the conventional battlefield and is the sword edge of India’s nuclear deterrence.

From a supporting arm with the limited role of neutralising large areas of the ground with its inherent dispersion of fire, artillery has graduated to an arm of decision on the modern battlefield.

This is an honour the Indian artillery has earned by virtue of its performance during Operation Vijay in the Kargil conflict in 1999.

The Artillery now has a new role - that of destruction in defensive as well as offensive operations. The government must support artillery modernisation wholeheartedly as it is this arm that will pave the victory on India’s future battlefields.

(Courtesy: India Stategic, June 2008) Link: http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories117.htm

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views either of the Editorial Committee or the Centre for Land Warfare Studies.