Finance
India is planning to add more self-propelled long range artillery to its arsenal after officials conducted a study indicating their effectiveness in shaping Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, have revealed that the South Asian country aims to acquire an additional 400 of these guns. This would constitute approximately one-sixth of all artillery pieces in the Indian armory.
The war in Ukraine has made India only the latest country to reevaluate its armory, preparedness for war and priorities on the battlefield. Officials cited an Indian military study showing that long range artillery with mobility is effective in influencing battle outcomes. Counterstrikes by the enemy are more likely to destroy guns in static positions, the officials said, citing the study.
India has deployed the majority of its 100 self-propelled guns along the disputed 3,488-kilometer (2,167-mile) border with China. Indian officials said soldiers from both countries have patrolled their respective sides toe-to-toe for the last three years.
India currently uses vintage field guns, mostly of Russian origin, that cannot move on their own, though the country has recently started upgrading its artillery units. The military has added US-made light field guns that can be carried on helicopters.
Crucially, the Indian military study showed that the country must cut the time needed to locate and fire at a target from five to 10 minutes to about a minute.
Last week, during a seminar, Chief General Manoj Pande of India’s army announced the reorganization and rearming of units assisting gun batteries in target acquisition. He stated that these units are now receiving equipment such as “remotely piloted aircraft and loiter ammunitions and swarm drones.”
The nation is adding more long range rockets and missiles to improve its “reach and fire power and reaction capability along the northern border,” said General Pande, who didn’t elaborate on the exact number of additional reinforcements.
