<p>Over the years, the ministry initiated many tenders and conducted extensive trials to purchase 155 mm towed artillery guns and two types of self-propelled guns – tracked and wheeled. None of them, however, materialised so far.<br /><br />Artillery guns of modern technology could not therefore be made available to troops for over a decade to replace the existing guns of obsolete technology of 1970 vintage.<br /><br />The acquisition planned in the 10th Army plan (2002-03 to 2006-07) had not fructified even now, not only impacting the Army's operational preparedness but also leading to substantial cost overrun, the CAG said in its report tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday.<br /><br />The army’s artillery wing is using guns whose technology can best be placed between world war II and 1970s, hardly the modern weapons used by the armies of the most advanced countries. <br /><br />No howitzer guns have been purchased since the 1986 Bofors deal by the Rajiv Gandhi government. The 15-year Bofors contract, which also provided for indigenous production of Bofors guns in India, was scrapped in 1989 following the political controversy that rocked the nation and led to the fall of the Rajiv government.<br /><br />The ban remained in place till June 1999 after which the process of acquiring 155 mm towed artillery guns began. The general staff qualitative requirement was made and subsequently amended. Global tender was issued and from nine vendors, three suitable companies were found who submitted technical and commercial bids.<br /><br />Extensive trials were held for four years between May 2002 and January 2007 after which the ministry realised that none of the gun-systems are in use in their country of origin. Also the technical parameters set in 2001 became outdated by the time the trials got over resulting in the cancellation of the process. Equally shoddy was the way the defence ministry and Army went ahead with their plan of buying self-propelled guns that provides continuous firing coverage.</p>
<p>Over the years, the ministry initiated many tenders and conducted extensive trials to purchase 155 mm towed artillery guns and two types of self-propelled guns – tracked and wheeled. None of them, however, materialised so far.<br /><br />Artillery guns of modern technology could not therefore be made available to troops for over a decade to replace the existing guns of obsolete technology of 1970 vintage.<br /><br />The acquisition planned in the 10th Army plan (2002-03 to 2006-07) had not fructified even now, not only impacting the Army's operational preparedness but also leading to substantial cost overrun, the CAG said in its report tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday.<br /><br />The army’s artillery wing is using guns whose technology can best be placed between world war II and 1970s, hardly the modern weapons used by the armies of the most advanced countries. <br /><br />No howitzer guns have been purchased since the 1986 Bofors deal by the Rajiv Gandhi government. The 15-year Bofors contract, which also provided for indigenous production of Bofors guns in India, was scrapped in 1989 following the political controversy that rocked the nation and led to the fall of the Rajiv government.<br /><br />The ban remained in place till June 1999 after which the process of acquiring 155 mm towed artillery guns began. The general staff qualitative requirement was made and subsequently amended. Global tender was issued and from nine vendors, three suitable companies were found who submitted technical and commercial bids.<br /><br />Extensive trials were held for four years between May 2002 and January 2007 after which the ministry realised that none of the gun-systems are in use in their country of origin. Also the technical parameters set in 2001 became outdated by the time the trials got over resulting in the cancellation of the process. Equally shoddy was the way the defence ministry and Army went ahead with their plan of buying self-propelled guns that provides continuous firing coverage.</p>
