New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) In a bid to hasten the artillery modernisation programme for the Indian Army, the defence ministry is considering buying ultra-light howitzers from the US, an official said Sunday.
“We are considering purchasing the ultra-light howitzers through the foreign military sales route,” a senior defence ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

The foreign military sales is the government-to-government route for selling US defence equipment, services, and training.

India has not bought any artillery guns since the controversial Bofors deal in 1986. In 2009, after 10 months of evaluation, it had selected Pegasus light howitzer of the Singapore Technologies for field trials.

However, the field trials could not be undertaken as the firm was blacklisted by the defence ministry on corruption charges, jeopardising the modernisation plan.

The ultra light howitzers are required by the Indian Army to counter the Chinese threat as heavy artillery cannot be moved in the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas.

The Indian Army was looking to purchase 140 ultra-light howitzers for Rs.29 billion ($612 million).

The Indian Army is now left with just about half of its 410 guns. Apart from 145 howitzers, the army wants to add 160 towed and wheeled guns.