NEW DELHI – The M777 guns will be part of the Mountain Strike Corps – a90,000 strong special force meant to guard the approximately40,000-kilometre long border with China. The M-777s are the first set ofnew howitzers acquired in three decades; India had shelved all contractsfor field guns after the Bofors scandal in the late 1980s.
In a bid to give its firepower in the eastern sector more precision andlethality, the Indian Army has moved its latest acquisition of lighthowitzers to near the China border.
These 155 mm guns are relatively light weight, allowing them to be slungunder a helicopter and moved quickly in mountainous terrain. The effectiverange of this American-made gun varies from 24-40 kilometres, depending onthe ammunition used, and can fire five rounds per minute for two minutes.
In September, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat confirmed that the Armywould be deploying these weapon systems and Chinook heavy-lift helicopterslinkinthe eastern sector.
Indian Armed Forces are planning to deploy latest American weapons systemsincluding M777 ultra-light howitzers & Chinook heavy-lift helicopters inwar games to be carried out in Arunachal Pradesh, close to borders withChina : Army chief General Bipin Rawat— Prasar Bharati News Services (@PBNS_India) September 13, 2019link
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India and the US started discussions on the purchase of 145 M777 in 2010and after rigorous negotiations, the deal was finalised in November 2018.Under the contract, 25 guns are to be inducted into the Indian Armydirectly and the remaining 120 guns will be assembled by BAE Systems – aBritish multinational defence equipment manufacturer, in partnership withthe Mahindra Group of India. All the M777s under the contract will bedelivered to the Army by 2021.
The Chinook chopper and the M777 howitzerlink areconsidered to be a deadly combination and the Army expects it to be agame-changer for forces deployed along the eastern border.
New Delhi ordered 15 choppers from the US for $1.18 billion in 2015, whilesix of them have already been delivered, Sputnik has reported.
