Eight more Dhanush for Army, misfire probe on

NAGPUR: After Dhanush — indigenous version of Bofors gun — suffered a muzzle brake hit in February this year, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) expects to deliver eight more guns to the Army in a couple of months. The investigation report on the incident is also expected by that time.
The incident took place when the Army was carrying out a pre-deployment firing exercise. This was kind of a test fire before the gun is actually deployed in given area.
Dhanush guns have been already inducted in the Army. The first six guns were handed over in 2019. The guns are being made at the Gun Carriage Factory in Jabalpur. Its shells are made in different factories in Vidarbha.
Muzzle brake is the front part of the barrel. The shell hits the component instead of shooting out the barrel. Muzzle brake hits have dogged Dhanush since beginning. The one in February is the fourth such incident after three muzzle hits took place before induction.
The enquiry report is expected in a couple of months and by that time new guns would be ready too. If at all any modifications need to be made, it may be minor and quickly done in the new guns, said a source privy of the matter.
Investigation into the muzzle hit incident and the work on the new guns is going on side by side, said sources. The gun that suffered muzzle hit was one of the six pieces first inducted in the Army.
Muzzle brake hits are not new for artillery guns. Even as Dhanush has suffered four muzzle hits, the advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS), being developed by private sector, and one of the US’s M-777 acquired by India have suffered muzzle hit too.
Dhanush has been subject to much intense trials as compared to any other weapon system. During the trials itself, as much as 5,500 rounds have been fired, which can be equal or even more than wartime firing, said sources.
The Army has been insisting on fresh tests at different stages. Apart from the regular user trials and general staff qualitative requirement (GSQR) evaluation, the Army also insisted for another round of trial fires named as user-exploitation. This was introduced for the first time for any system. After that, the pre-deployment firing exercise was again conducted on the guns when the muzzle hit took place. Firing 5500 rounds in trials itself is a record on its own said sources.
Repeated tests can increase the chances of misfire in a normal course, said a source.
Before delivery, the guns have to be fired for proving. Out of the eight, two have been proved and assembly is ready for the remaining six. The OFB has an order for 114 Dhanush guns.