Fresh RFP for Army's 155 mm towed guns

New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) The Defence Ministry will issue fresh Request for Proposals for acquiring 155 mm towed guns after the army did not find the field trials of three existing competitors up to the scratch.

Fresh international bids would be sought as the army did not find results of the existing guns -- manufactured by Denel, Soltam and BAE-SWS Bofors -- up to the mark, Defence Minister A K Antony said after flagging off army's Mt Everest expedition team here today.

It was entirely the army's decision and the ministry would go by its wish in such matters, after all they had to use it, he said.

Denying that this could further delay induction of the guns, which had faced years of trial since 2002 in diverse regions of the country, Chief of Army Staff General J J Singh said we could not take something that did not suit our requirements.

Instead of the present 39-calibre 155 mm gun, the army was looking for 52-calibre guns that would have longer range and would be capable for firing nuclear shells also. However, so far no other country in the world possessed such a gun.

The country was to acquire four hundred 52-calibre 155 mm towed guns off-the-shelf and manufacture another 1,000 guns in the country under technology transfer.

UNI