Indian Field Gun | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Type | Field gun |
Place of origin | India |
Service history | |
Used by | See Operators |
Production history | |
Designer | ARDE |
Designed | 1972 |
Manufacturer | Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur |
Produced | 1978–present [1] |
Variants | Mk-1, Mk-2, Truck mounted variant, OFB 105 mm SPG |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2,380 kg (5,250 lb) |
Length | 5.94 m (19 ft 6 in) |
Barrel length | 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) L/22 |
Width | 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) |
Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Shell | 105 x 372 mm R HE, HESH, HEAT, illuminating, smoke |
Caliber | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Breech | Horizontal block |
Recoil | Hydropneumatic, constant, 42 in (110 cm) |
Carriage | split trail |
Elevation | -5° to +73° |
Traverse | 30° left & right |
Muzzle velocity | 475 m/s (1,560 ft/s) |
Maximum firing range | 17,200 m (10.7 mi) to 20,000 m (12 mi) |
The Indian Field Gun is a towed field gun developed in India and extensively used in the Indian Army.
The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) began the design and development of the gun in 1972 to replace the older 25-pounder guns used by the Indian Army. It was produced in the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF), Jabalpur from 1978 onwards. [1] [2] [3] In addition to the GCF, the guns have been manufactured at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur.
The shells are manufactured at ordnance factories in Ambajhari and Chandrapur. [4] It shares many features with the British L118 light gun. It's suitable to operate in mountainous and other difficult terrains, because this gun has excellent portability. [5]
The Indian Field Gun (IFG) weighs 3,450 kg (7,610 lb). It has a normal rate of fire of four rounds per minute over ranges from 2,000–17,400 m (6,600–57,100 ft). It can sustain an intense rate of fire of six rounds per minute for up to 10 minutes and a sustained rate of fire for up to one hour. It has a crew of six. The gun has a secondary anti-tank capability. It can operate in temperatures ranging from −27 to +60 °C (−17 to 140 °F). The recoil on firing is absorbed by two side-mounted hydraulic cylinders. A circular platform provided with the gun can be used for rapid 360° movement. [1] [6] Manufacture of the Indian Field Gun began in 1978. [1] There are three variants:
The Light Field Gun (LFG) variant weights 2,380 kg (5,250 lb), but retains the same rate of fire and range as the IFG. The LFG can be broken down into two or three parts for easy transport and quickly re-assembled. The LFG can be heli-lifted and paradropped. [1] [6] The manufacture of the Light Field Gun began in 1984. [6] There are two variants:
The Ordnance QF 25-pounder, or more simply 25-pounder or 25-pdr, with a calibre of 3.45 inches (87.6 mm), was a piece of field artillery used by British and Commonwealth forces in the Second World War. It was often described as being durable, easy to operate and versatile. It was the most produced and used British field gun and gun-howitzer during the War.
The LG1 is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries of France.
FV433, 105mm, Field Artillery, Self-Propelled "Abbot" is the self-propelled artillery, or more specifically self-propelled gun (SPG), variant of the British Army FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), using much of the chassis of the FV430 but with a fully rotating turret at the rear housing the 105 mm gun and given the vehicle designation of FV433.
The M119 howitzer is a lightweight 105 mm howitzer, used by the United States Army. It is the American licensed version of the British L119 light gun. The M119 is typically towed by the M1097 or M1152 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and can be easily airlifted by helicopter, or airdropped by parachute.
The L118 light gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer. It was originally designed and produced in the United Kingdom for the British Army in the 1970s. It has since been widely exported. The L119 and the United States Army's M119 are variants that use a different type of ammunition.
Major-General Ranjit Lal Jetley, FIE, FIQA was an Indian soldier and scientist. He served in World War II and the 1947 Indo-Pakistani War, becoming an artillery regiment commander. He went on to work in armaments research and development, his innovations including an Indian 10mm light field gun and upgunning of the Sherman tanks. He also contributed to set up two major laboratories. Jetley retired in 1979 and moved to the United Kingdom.
Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, also known as GCF Jabalpur is a defence factory and a census town in Jabalpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Located in the scenic surroundings of the Satpura Range, this small government township is built around its namesake defence establishment. It is about 3 km from the Jabalpur City railway station, and is also closely connected to the city. It is surrounded by other defense establishments. Within the estate, there are central schools, hospitals, churches, temples and clubs.
The Directorate of Ordnance is an authority under the Department of Defence Production (DDP) of Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India.. It's primary work is to managment, give instructions and make coordination of government Ordance production public companies. It is the main regulatory body of Indian Ordnance and its administration civil service, Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS). The DOO(C&S) earlier known as Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), consisting of the Indian Ordnance Factories. In 2021, Government having corporatise the functions of the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories into 7 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), the Government is merging them again in 2024, as the output of one factory serves as the input of the other.
In India, the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Pune, it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of conventional armaments.
Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) located at Vahannagar near Ahmednagar. Its primary function is research and development of various light tracked, wheeled and specialised vehicles for defence applications.
The DRDO light tank is a tracked amphibious light tank developed in India by DRDO. It is based on the "Sarath" chassis, a licensed variant of the Soviet BMP infantry fighting vehicle. It was built by the Ordnance Factory Medak with a French GIAT TS-90 turret and 105 mm gun. This was an experimental vehicle, designed to carry high-caliber weapons without sacrificing mobility.
The advanced towed artillery gun system (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems and Kalyani Strategic Systems.
Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, is a military motor vehicle factory, located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, part of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited which was previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board, controlled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Ordnance Factory Medak (OFMK), previously called Ordnance Factory Project Medak (OFPM) while in its development stage, is a factory owned by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, a company that manufactures armoured vehicles and was one of the 41 Indian ordnance factories under the erstwhile Ordnance Factories Board of the Ministry of Defence, controlled by Government of India.
OFB 105mm SPG is an Indian self-propelled tracked artillery. It has been developed & manufactured by Ordnance Development Centre, Ordnance Factory Medak. This is developed from Light Field Gun mounted on BMP 2 Sarath
Dhanush (bow) is a 155 mm towed howitzer manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board. The gun was approved for service in 2019 and has been inducted into the Indian Army. The Dhanush project was started by OFB to replace the older 105 mm Indian Field Gun, 105 mm Light Field Gun and the Russian 122 mm guns with a modern 155 mm artillery gun.
105 mm is a common NATO-standard artillery and tank gun calibre. The rifled tank round is defined by STANAG 4458. The artillery round is defined by AOP-29 part 3 with reference to STANAG 4425.
The Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan is a procurement-cum-development plan of the Indian Army. The programme was drafted in 1999 in the aftermath of the Kargil war, emboldened by the success of the 155 mm Bofors guns in its inventory. The programme was slated to replace the weapons of 169 artillery regiments with modern weapon systems, predominantly of 155mm calibre. The procurement involves direct import, manufacture under license, as well as inhouse development of artillery weapon systems.
The KH178 is a South Korean 105 mm 38 caliber towed howitzer. It was designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and manufactured by Hyundai WIA.
Munitions India Limited (MIL) is an Indian state-owned defence company, headquartered in Pune, India, established in 2021 as part of the restructuring and corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven different Public Sector Undertakings. Munitions India primarily manufactures ammunition, explosives, rockets and bombs for the use of the Indian Armed Forces, foreign militaries and domestic civilian use.