New Delhi: A parliamentary committee has flagged the delay in production of electronically upgraded Dhanush gun system and said it is concerned to note the defence ministry's admission that this has "affected the operational preparedness" of the Army, specially the Artillery Division.
In its report presented in Parliament on Thursday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), headed by Congress leader K C Venugopal, also observed that in the "present geopolitical scenario, the ministry must be proactive to assess the stockpiles and efficacy of such critical guns to ensure that the armed forces are not deprived of credible equipment and technology".
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The PAC has recommend that the ministry should "take concrete steps towards structural transformation of the decision-making process, so that such matters of national security are not marred by unrealistic delays".
The report titled "Delay in Production of Electronically upgraded 155mm/45 Calibre Gun System Dhanush" is based on Paragraph 3.4 of Comptroller and Auditor General of India's (CAG) report no. 13 of 2018, relating to the Ministry of Defence (Department of Defence Production).
In that paragraph of the CAG report, the audit has highlighted that the development of electronically upgraded 155 mm/45 calibre gun system Dhanush undertaken by ordnance factories in 2011, was yet to completely clear the user trials, the PAC said in its report.
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"As such, due to the delay in clearing user trials and consequent finalisation of system configurations, the bulk production clearance for the indent of gun, placed on OFB in March 2013 was yet to be accorded by the Army. This further prolonged the wait of the Indian Army to hold modern artillery guns," it added.
Artillery units of Indian Army hold 155 mm/39 calibre (towed) guns which were procured through a contract concluded in 1986 with AB Bofors, Sweden, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The contract also provides for transfer of technology (ToT) for upkeep and overhaul of the guns, the PAC report said.
According to the audit, since obtaining the ToT in 1986-89, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was producing certain assemblies/sub-assemblies. However, due to non-induction of any new artillery gun, and when "deficiency in stock of 39 calibre gun became sizable" in 2009 and "the OEM offered old and used guns", the OFB stated its capability of producing gun based on the ToT of 1986.
Accordingly, acceptance of necessity (AoN) for procurement of a certain number of 155 mm 39/45 calibre gun as 'Buy (Indian)' from the OFB with electronic and mechanical upgrade (to 45 calibre) was accorded by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in October 2011 and accordingly Project Dhanush was started by the OFB.
The OFB was to produce two electronically upgraded prototypes of guns of 39 and 45 calibre, respectively, it adds.
However, during validation firing of the electronically upgraded gun which was carried out in May 2012, the "barrel and muzzle brake of gun was damaged".
Based on the system validation check of 45 calibre barrel and electronic sub-system, a fresh AON for another specified number of 45 calibre guns, subject to successful completion of user trials, was accorded by DAC in September 2012 and the indent was placed on OFB in March 2013, the PAC said.
The committee observed that the development undertaken by the OFB in 2011 was yet to clear the user trials and as such the audit further observed that the "deficiency in holding of modern artillery gun continues and the Army is compelled to hold old guns with limited operation fire power".
Development of Dhanush artillery gun system is a mega project of national importance involving various stakeholders -- government agencies and many Indian companies.
The project is being continuously monitored in the defence ministry. This is a weapon system of "intricate and critical technologies", the Ministry of Defence (Department of Defence Production) submitted this to the PAC.
OFB and the stakeholders have jointly worked to develop a "world-class and contemporary weapon system" to fulfil the requirement of the user. It is worthwhile to mention that Dhanush was the first such gun developed in India, paving way for others to emulate, the ministry also told the panel.
The committee said it has noted the submission of the ministry that the Dhanush gun system has "boosted the sustenance" of original Bofors Guns held in the inventory of the Army, due to commonality and indigenisation of almost all the parts of original Bofors guns.
"However, the Committee are also concerned to note the admission of the ministry that the delay in production affected the operational preparedness of the Army, specially the Artillery Division," the PAC said.
"Considering current geopolitical scenario, the Committee are of the opinion that the Indian Army cannot function with obsolete artilleries for such a long period of time and therefore recommend that the ministry take concrete steps towards structural transformation of the decision making process, so that such matters of national security are not marred by unrealistic delays," it adds in the report.
The panel also recommended identification of "capability gaps" as per emerging threats at regular intervals and also to take concrete steps to ensure timely acquisition of critical equipments and technology.
The committee urged the ministry to focus on supply chain management and formulation of guidelines or SOPs to ensure that suppliers meet the criteria as per the operational requirements of the armed forces, and also to ensure that such suppliers adhere to timelines as may be specified in the respective contracts.
