India’s First Indigenous Artillery Gun

India’s First Indigenous Artillery Gun Dhanush Inducted In The Indian Army

Indian Army inducted India’s first indigenous artillery gun on April 8. In this article, we will study some facts and figures about this artillery gun named as “DHANUSH”

So let’s start

What is Dhanush?

• Dhanush is an upgraded version of 155 mm Bofors Howitzers which India procured in the mid-1980s. so they will replace 105 mm Indian Field guns.
• It has been developed by Ordinance factory board (OFB) based on the requirements of the Indian Army and is manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory.
• It has several significant advance features, including an all-electric drive, high mobility, auxiliary power mode, automated command and control system etc.
• Its 81% is indigenously sourced and it will be scaled up to 90% till 2019.
• Each of the guns costs about Rs.14.50 crore and each shell costs about 1 lakh.
• Dhanush is also known as desi Bofors.

Specifications

• It is 155 mm X 45 mm calibre artillery gun.
• It has a strike range of 38 kilometre which is 11 kilometres more than that of imported Bofors gun.
• The rate of Fire – Burst : 3 rounds in 15 seconds, Intense: 15 rounds in 3 minutes, Sustained: 60 rounds in 60 minute.
• It can carry a crew of 6-8 members.
• It has six round magazine instead of standard 3 round due to which it weighs more than normal because of its larger chamber size.
• Above all Dhanush is also compatible with all NATO 155 mm systems.

The first phase of trials was conducted between July and September 2016 at Pokhran and Babina bases. The second phase was conducted between October and December 2016 at Siachen base Camp with three guns.

During these trials, Dhanush has travelled in extensively in towed and self-propelled mode in the desert and high altitude terrains. Each gun has clocked over 1000 kilometre demonstrating their mobility. Indian Army has ordered has 114 guns which will be delivered in four years.

So this was it, Stay tuned to DDE for more such articles

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