BAE welcomes inking of M777 Howitzers deal between India and US

NEW DELHI: BAE Systems, maker of M777 ultra-light weight Howitzers, welcomed the signing of a direct government-to-government deal for 145 Howitzers between India and the US. The company said it is looking forward to provide India an unmatched strategic and tactical mobility weapon.

“We look forward to provide the Indian Army a combat-proven M777,” Dr. Joe Senftle, vice-president and general manager for Weapon Systems at BAE Systems said in a statement released by the company.

According to a PTI report, India and the US, yesterday, signed the $700 million (nearly Rs 5,000-crore) deal for M777 ultra-light howitzers, after over three decades of Bofors fiasco.


The deal involves a significant 'Make in India' component under which BAE Systems will invest about $200 million into Indian defence industry. BAE said the company is committed to ‘Make in India’ and is further looking forward to work with the Indian defence sector across Air, Land, Sea and Security.

“Our plan to establish a domestic Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) facility further demonstrates our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and remains a firm part of our strategy to work with the Indian defence sector across Air, Land, Sea and Security,” Joe Senftle said.

Earlier this year, BAE Systems had announced a plan to establish an AIT facility in India as a commitment to India’s offset offer.

The deal for M777 howitzers under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route has been in process since 2008 and has seen several ups and downs, including the possibility of being scrapped. The contract was revived last year by the Modi government under a new deal that included a Make in India component.

While 25 guns will come to India in a fly-away condition, the rest will be assembled at the proposed AIT facility for the weapon system in India in partnership with Mahindra.