Two line up bids for Indian Army howitzer contract

BAE Systems and Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics are to submit bids by 7 April to supply the Indian Army with 140 ultra-light 155 mm/39 cal howitzers.

However, the two systems are not scheduled to enter trials until 2009, when they will be tested in the Rajasthan desert and at high altitudes.

Representatives from both companies have told Jane's that they were negotiating collaborative agreements with local companies to jointly build the howitzers under licence and satisfy the mandatory offset obligation of 30 per cent of the overall contract value.

BAE Systems is offering its M777 155 mm/39 cal towed howitzer, which weighs less than 4,220 kg.

ST's rival Pegasus 155 mm/39 cal lightweight howitzer weighs 5,400 kg. 150 of 342 words