Dhanush Gun Delays: A parliamentary committee has raised concerns about delays in the production of the upgraded Dhanush gun system. The Public Accounts Committee, led by Congress leader K C Venugopal, said it is worried that the delay has “affected the operational preparedness” of the Army, especially the Artillery Division. The report was tabled in Parliament on Thursday and came from a review of the old CAG findings on the project.
The committee also said 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”. It further pushed the ministry to “take concrete steps towards structural transformation of the decision-making process, so that such matters of national security are not marred by unrealistic delays”.
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How the Project got Stuck?
The report says the Dhanush project began after the Defence Acquisition Council gave its approval in October 2011 for an Indian-made, electronically upgraded 155 mm gun system. The ordnance factories were asked to make two prototype guns, one of 39 calibre and one of 45 calibre. But when validation firing was done in May 2012, the “barrel and muzzle brake of gun was damaged”. The PAC said that because user trials were still not fully cleared, bulk production approval also got delayed.
The committee said the Army was still using older 155 mm/39 calibre towed guns bought from Bofors in 1986. That old deal also included transfer of technology for upkeep and overhaul. The audit noted that the Ordnance Factory Board had made some parts after getting that technology, but because no new gun had been fully inducted for a long time, the shortage of modern artillery kept growing. The PAC said the Army was left to hold old guns with “limited operation fire power”.
What the Committee wants now?
The PAC said Dhanush is a project of national importance and that many government bodies and Indian companies are involved in it. It also noted the ministry’s view that the gun system has “boosted the sustenance” of the original Bofors guns because many parts are now common and indigenised. Still, the committee said the delay in production had hurt the Army’s readiness and that such slow work cannot continue when the security situation is tense.
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The panel also asked the ministry to keep checking “capability gaps” at regular intervals, so that new threats can be met on time. It urged better supply chain management too. It also wants clear SOPs so suppliers meet the needs of the armed forces and follow the timelines written in their contracts. In simple words, the committee wants faster decisions, cleaner planning and quicker delivery of critical guns for the Army.
