The Indian Army is preparing a procurement plan for 300 Dhanush 155 mm towed howitzers, a move intended to expand its long-range artillery inventory and equip new artillery regiments, Defence.in reported.
If approved, the acquisition would represent the second major order for the Dhanush platform.
Under the initial contract, the army ordered 114 guns, several of which have already been deployed with operational artillery regiments.
Expanding the inventory by 300 units would allow the army to establish multiple new regiments while reinforcing existing formations.
A typical Indian artillery regiment operates 18 guns, meaning the planned purchase would support the creation of roughly 15 new regimental units.
Dhanush System
The Dhanush is a 155 mm, 45-caliber towed artillery system designed for long-range indirect fire missions.
It is intended for deployment across different operational environments, including mountainous and high-altitude areas where Indian Army artillery units frequently operate.
The system is produced domestically by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and represents an updated version of the Bofors FH-77B howitzer introduced into Indian service during the 1980s.
Its development was based on technology transferred from the original Swedish platform, followed by engineering changes introduced during the modernization process.
Compared with the earlier Bofors design, the Dhanush incorporates several technical modifications.
These include strengthened materials for the barrel and structural components, adjustments to the recoil system, and the integration of digital fire-control and targeting equipment for improving accuracy and gun-laying procedures.
According to Defence.in, the howitzer can strike targets at distances of up to about 38 kilometers (23.6 miles), depending on the ammunition type and propellant configuration.
This extends the reach beyond the earlier 39-caliber Bofors guns, which typically had an effective range of about 27 kilometers (16.8 miles).
