The Cabinet Committee on security, led by PM Narendra Modi, has reportedly given the green signal for acquisition of 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers for the Indian Army. Two out of the 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers, manufactured by BAE systems, will arrive in India from the US on Friday. The first two guns are arriving in India a month ahead of the schedule.

After the Bofors scandal broke out nearly 30 years ago, this will be the first induction of the howitzers. The Bofors scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in Sweden and India during the 1980s and 1990s, initiated by Indian National Congress politicians. Since the scandal, the artillery modernisation of the Indian Army was badly hit.

Source: ssbcrack

The howitzers will be mostly deployed in the high-altitude areas such as Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, along with the India-China border.

India has struck a government-to-government deal for 145 howitzers with the US at a cost of around $ 700 million (more than Rs 4500 crores). Out of the 145 guns, as per the deal, 25 howitzers will be bought directly from BAE, and the rest 120 will be assembled in India by Mahindra.

Recently, India also placed an order for four more Boeing P-8I (Poseidon) long-range surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The long range P-8Is are often called the hawk eyes of the Indian Navy. India will start getting this P-8Is by 2020.

Information source: financialexpress

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