India is increasing its artillery strength along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Arunachal Pradesh. For this, M777 ultra light howitzer guns purchased from America will be deployed. 145 M777 are being purchased from USA. The army will deploy these cannons in the northern sector of Ladakh and the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
Officials said that artillery regiments deployed in eastern Arunachal Pradesh are being trained to operate M777. One officer said, "These guns will greatly increase the strength of the army. They will be deployed by the end of the year. These cannons can be deployed in areas such as Tawang, Kameng and Waleong in Arunachal Pradesh".
In November 2016, India signed a contract of Rs 5,070 crore with the US to buy 145 M777. Of these, 25 guns will be given in ready condition, while the remaining 120 will be assembled in partnership with Mahindra in India. The US military has used the M777 in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq. These guns will help India secure its borders in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. These cannons can be carried by helicopter to areas near the LAC.
Difficult to take Bofors by road
Another important cannon deployed on the border is to carry the Bofors to the place of deployment by road. For the last few years, the Army is finding it difficult to transport Bofors cannons on LAC in Arunachal Pradesh as the roads are not wide in this area. To overcome this difficulty, the cannon is moved away from its vehicle.
The Bofors cannon weighs 30–40 tonnes with its vehicle. The army is firing low caliber cannons like 105 mm. Cannons with more firepower are being replaced in their place. The army has developed the weapon detection radar 'Swati' in the country itself. This will help in timely detection of cannon shelling from the Chinese region.
