Two
of the world's most powerful howitzers will dominate the
BAE Systems' presence at DefExpo in Delhi starting Feb
15th. The BAE Systems FH77 B05 towed howitzer, and M777,
the ultra light howitzer, will both be part of BAE Systems'
biggest ever presence at DefExpo.
BAE
Systems will be co-located with Defence Land Systems India,
the Mahindra and BAE Systems joint venture company which
will soon be up and running.
Andrew
Gallagher, President BAE Systems India said:"BAE
Systems' commitment to the development of a long term
domestic business in India, with a full range of skills
and capabilities, is unmatched. We firmly support the
Indian Government's aim of procuring 70% of defence equipment
domestically and see the establishment of Defence Land
Systems India as a major contribution towards this objective."
M777,
the world's lightest 155mm howitzer, will grace the BAE
Systems stand. Next to the M777, on the Defence Land Systems
India stand, will be the FH77 B05. This is the significantly
upgraded and more powerful big brother of the FH77 B02
in service with the Indian Army, which performed so admirably
during the Kargil conflict.
The
BAE Systems FH77 B05 is bidding for the Indian Army requirement
for towed 52cal 155mm howitzers. Trials with the India
Army are due to start after DefExpo. The new upgraded
howitzer, FH77 B05, has all round greater performance
including increased range over the 39cal FH77 B02. It
is intended that Defence Land Systems India would have
a significant and increasing role in the production of
FH77 B05, toward the intended goal of Defence Land Systems
India becoming an artillery centre of excellence in India.
BAE
Systems FH77 BO5 Towed howitzer
The
M777 ultra light weight howitzer is now in the Foreign
Military Sales (FMS) process for a possible FMS purchase
between the US and Indian Governments. M777 is, by some
considerable margin, the lightest 155mm howitzer in the
world, and the only one proven in battle. BAE Systems
stands ready to support both governments in a possible
FMS purchase.
BAE
Systems M777 Ultra light howitzer
DefExpo
will also see the launch of the MPVI (Mine Protected Vehicle
India). A mine protected vehicle specifically designed
for Indian conditions - the vehicle will make its first
public appearance at the show on Defence Land Systems
India's stand. The result of collaboration between Mahindra
and BAE Systems, MPVI brings battle proven life saving
vehicle protection technology to India in an affordable
package, based on an indigenously assembled chassis and
drive train. MPVI will be built at Defence Land Systems
India's Faridabad manufacturing facility.
The
UK's new tactical communications system, Falcon, will
also be on display. Falcon will enter service with the
British Army and Royal Air Force this year and is the
world's first tactical comms system based on an all IP
(Internet Protocol) open architecture. FALCON provides
secure deployable broadband voice, data and video, delivering
the core of Network Enabled Capability. FALCON interoperates
with all NATO systems, enabling better information sharing
and exploitation, improving military commanders' awareness
and decision-making, and ultimately mission success. BAE
Systems intends to use elements of what has been produced
for Falcon in the bid for the Indian Army's Tactical Communications
System programme.
Anjani
and BAE Systems recently announced a new partnership that
will see the two companies collaborate to produce survivability
and protection equipment for soldiers and vehicles in
India. Anjani and BAE Systems will be displaying these
capabilities on their stands. Anjani is bidding for the
Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) requirement for
59,000 bullet proof vests. If successful the vests will
be produced by Anjani in India using BAE Systems' Tensylon
technology. The Tensylon ballistic material, made from
high performance polyethylene fibre, provides superior
performance and a lighter-weight, cost-effective solution.
DefExpo
also sees the India launch of BAE Systems' on-board power
management system, which more than doubles the electrical
power output of military vehicles to increase mission
effectiveness. The system also provides power that can
be exported from the vehicle during natural disasters
and to support facilities and equipment such as field
hospitals, command centres, and water purification systems.
