This file photo shows US soldiers fire a 155MM M777 howitzer in eastern Afghanistan. India will be purchasing 145 of these guns. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
NEW DELHI: India's defence procurement agency has cleared a proposal to buy 145 M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzer artillery guns from BAe Systems in a deal worth an estimated $750 million, a defence ministry source said on Saturday.
Under the deal, 120 of the 145 guns will be assembled in India, said the source, who asked not to be identified in line with defence ministry rules.
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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to upgrade the country's military hardware by replenishing its range of artillery weapons after years of delays in ordering new equipment.
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BAe said in February it had chosen Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group to build a plant for the assembly of the howitzer artillery guns it hopes to sell to India. The source said the proposal would soon be communicated to the United States, where BAe manufactures the weapons.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2016.
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