The indigenously designed and manufactured 155mm x 45mm calibre artillery gun, Dhanush, has successfully met all technical parameters during the winter and summer trials. Informing the Members of Parliament of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said Dhanush incorporates many improved features than the guns which the Army is possessing at present.

The Consultative Committee was discussing the Role Performance and Future of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), one of the oldest and largest production organisations of the Ministry of Defence. OFB is a conglomerate of 39 ordnance factories with another two new projects being set up at Nalanda in Bihar and Korwa in Uttar Pradesh.

Parrikar said another notable achievement of OFB in the recent time has been the indigenous development of 40mm multi-grenade launcher (MGL) for 40mm x 46mm low velocity grenades (LVG). He also said the assault rifle Ghaatak (7.62mm x 39mm) developed has met all the parameters as per the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) during the trial evaluation by paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Defence Minister said the Ministry has taken a number of initiatives towards improving the performance of OFB. This includes efforts to operate OFB on a corporate model (not corporatise) with a commercial accounting system. The procurement manual has also been revised keeping in view the ‘Make in India’ plan to facilitate long-term procurement.