New Delhi, November 1: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the upgrading of the Indian Army's 130 mm/52 calibre M-46 field guns to the 155 mm/45 calibre model, reported Sputnik News. These guns were acquired by India in 1980’s from the then Soviet Union. The cost for upgrading the guns will be around $ 28 million. The Indian Army will get the upgraded guns by 2022. The state-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will carry out the process of upgrading the old medium field guns. Ministry Of Defence Approves Acquisition Of 6.5 Lakh Assault Rifles For Indian Army Under 'Make In India'

According to the report, the OFB secured the contract by outbidding two foreign players who had partnered with local private sector companies Punj Lloyd and Bharat Forge. The OFB will replace the barrel and breech block, in addition to this, new sighting systems will also be added to the guns. As the entire upgrading process will be carried out by the OFB, it will save foreign exchange of the country. Indian Army Seeks Fresh 'Acceptance of Necessity' to Acquire 814 Artillery Guns

The new guns will become 300 percent, more lethal. In 2013, The Indian Army had floated a tender for upgrading the 300 out of 1000 M-46 guns. The upgraded guns acquire a range of over 38 kilometres. The gun has a combat weight of 8.4 tons and a length and width of 11.84 meters and 2.45 meters.

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