Indian Military

Development
The Indian Ordnance Factories' 105 mm Light Field Gun (LFG) bears a resemblance to the now BAE Systems Global Combat Systems 105 mm Light Gun. This is partly due to the fact that both were derived from the same 105 mm L13 gun used on the Vickers FV433 Abbot self-propelled gun. The Indian Army took delivery of a total of 68 Value Engineered Abbot 105 mm self-propelled guns. The Abbot is understood to have been phased out of front line service with the Indian Army. Some sources have stated that these are still held in reserve. The first 105 mm barrel, developed in India from the British original, was used on the 105 mm Field Gun Mk 1 (see separate entry). This uses tubular bow trails similar to those of the British now BAE Systems Global Combat Systems 105 mm Light Gun.By early 1996, a total of 533 105 mm LFGs had been manufactured for the Indian Army. There are no known export sales of this weapon. It is believed that these weapons are mainly deployed with artillery units deployed in mountainous terrain.As far as it is known there has been no recent production of the Indian Ordnance Factories 105 mm Light Field Gun. This has been confirmed by the United Nations who have stated that India did not export any artillery systems between 1992 through to the year 2008.

Description
To reduce weight the weapon has been constructed using light, high-strength alloy steels giving a weight in action of 2,380 kg.The ordnance consists of a monobloc autofrettaged barrel with a vertical, sliding, hand-operated breech block. Firing is electrical. The cradle, saddle and undercarriage are lightweight fabricated structures. Other features include spring-type balancing gears, a telescopic type of hydropneumatic recuperator, a suspension system and bow-shaped tubular trails. The normal towing position is with the barrel folded back across the trails. A 360° traversing firing platform is provided. The LFG can be parachute dropped and carried by helicopter.The 105 mm Light Field Gun fires separate ammunition produced by the Indian Ordnance Factories using a seven-charge system (1, 2, 3, 4, 4.5, 5 and Super). Projectiles include HE, smoke, base ejection, star and HESH (High Explosive Squash Head). Maximum range is 17,200 m. The normal rate of fire is 4 rds/min and the intense rate of fire is 6 rds/min for up to 10 minutes (charge 5). The sustained fire rate is one round every 2 minutes for up to 2 hours (charge Super).The 105 mm LFG is fitted with a dial sight with a magnification of ×3 and a 13° field of view for use in the indirect fire role and a day telescope with a magnification of ×2 and a 16° field of view

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