Artillery

Dhanush

Also known as
  • Dhanush 155 mm x 45 calibre artillery gun
  • Dhanush Gun System
  • 155 mm x 45 Dhanush
  • Dhanush howitzer
  • Dhanush 155/45
  • Dhanush 155 mm/45 calibre
  • Dhanush 155 mm/45 calibre gun
  • Dhanush 155 mm/45-calibre towed howitzer
  • Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzer
  • Dhanush 155/52
  • Dhanush MGS

Dhanush is an Indian 155 mm x 45 calibre towed artillery gun system developed by Ordnance Factory Board and the Indian Army from the FH77B Bofors technology-transfer lineage. It was cleared for bulk production in 2019, with public reporting describing an initial 114-gun order, Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur assembly, Field Gun Factory Kanpur barrel and breech work, and later AWEIL 155 mm/52 calibre and mounted-gun proposals.

Dhanush, 155 mm / 45 calibre towed artillery gun system, Artillery
Image source: Dhanush Artillery firing image
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
India
Type
155 mm / 45 calibre towed artillery gun system
Service note
2010s-present Indian artillery modernization program
Designer
Ordnance Factory Board and Indian Army joint development, with DRDO, DGQA, public-sector, and private-sector contributions
Designed
2010s
Produced
2019-present
Number built
Initial Indian order of 114 guns cleared in 2019
Developed from
155 mm FH77B Bofors howitzer technology-transfer lineage

Specifications

Caliber
155 mm x 45 calibre
Ammunition
Standard NATO 155 mm ammunition, including BMCS compatibility in public MoD reporting
Fire-control features
Inertial navigation-based sighting, auto-laying, onboard ballistic computation, and day/night direct-fire system
Project Shakti compatibility
Communication system compatibility with the Indian Army's Project Shakti artillery command-and-control network
Weight
Less than 13 tonnes in 2019 MoD handover reporting
155 mm/52 calibre proposal
Janes reported a 42 km range, less-than-14-tonne weight, 8,060 mm barrel, and 2,790 kg barrel weight for the upgraded Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre version
Elevation
-3 degrees to 70 degrees
Traverse
60 degree arc of traverse
Mobility
Towed gun with self-propulsion unit for local deployment and mountainous terrain movement
Bofors Lineage And Indian Redesign

Dhanush belongs in the Indian 155 mm FH77B Bofors howitzer lineage, but it is not simply the same 39 calibre Swedish gun. It is an Indian 155 mm/45 calibre development that reused the Bofors technology-transfer base while changing the barrel length, fire-control package, laying system, and manufacturing approach.

Lineage base

Defense News described Dhanush as based on original drawings of the Swedish 155 mm/39 calibre Bofors howitzers India procured in the mid-1980s.

Indian redesign

CENJOWS describes OFB development of an indigenous electronically upgraded 155 mm/45 calibre gun from available Bofors designs, with OFB filling design and production gaps left by incomplete transfer material.

Production context

PIB reporting ties 2019 bulk production clearance to 114 guns and records the first six guns being handed over at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur.

Variants

Public sources distinguish the production 155 mm/45 calibre towed gun from later AWEIL 155 mm/52 calibre and mounted-gun proposals.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Dhanush 155 mm/45 calibre towed gun systemProduction baseline

The Ministry of Defence described the 2019 bulk-production weapon as a 155 mm x 45 calibre modern artillery gun system with an initial order for 114 guns.

Sources: OFB gets Bulk Production Clearance for Dhanush Artillery Gun, Dhanush guns handed over to the Army

Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzerUpgraded towed proposal

Janes reported that AWEIL displayed a 155 mm/52 calibre Dhanush at DefExpo 2022 with a 42 km range, less-than-14-tonne weight, double-baffle muzzle brake, retractable barrel, and unified day/night sighting.

Sources: Defexpo 2022: India upgrades Dhanush towed guns, AWEIL proposes MGS, towed gun for Indian Army

Dhanush Mounted Gun SystemMounted-gun proposal

Janes reported that AWEIL proposed mounted gun systems armed with Dhanush for Indian Army requirements after displaying the 155 mm/52 calibre gun at Defence Expo 2022.

Sources: AWEIL proposes MGS, towed gun for Indian Army

Timeline

Dhanush Key Events

  1. Bulk production clearance granted

    The Indian Army and Ministry of Defence gave Ordnance Factory Board bulk production clearance for 114 Dhanush guns.

    Sources: OFB gets Bulk Production Clearance for Dhanush Artillery Gun

  2. First six guns handed over

    The first six Dhanush guns were handed over to the Indian Army at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur.

    Sources: Dhanush guns handed over to the Army

  3. 155 mm/52 calibre Dhanush displayed

    Janes reported that AWEIL displayed an upgraded 155 mm/52 calibre Dhanush towed howitzer at DefExpo 2022 with a stated 42 km range.

    Sources: Defexpo 2022: India upgrades Dhanush towed guns

  4. AWEIL proposes towed and mounted Dhanush systems

    Janes reported that AWEIL proposed both 155 mm/52 calibre towed Dhanush guns and Dhanush-armed mounted gun systems for Indian Army requirements.

    Sources: AWEIL proposes MGS, towed gun for Indian Army

  5. FGK component role publicly identified

    A Ministry of Defence release on a visit to Field Gun Factory Kanpur described FGK as making barrel and breech assemblies for artillery guns and tanks, including Dhanush.

    Sources: Rajnath Singh visits Field Gun Factory Kanpur

Media

Dhanush Videos

Dhanush Images

Dhanush, 155 mm / 45 calibre towed artillery gun system, Artillery - view 1
Source: Multiple Dhanush Artillery firing image
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Sources

OFB gets Bulk Production Clearance for Dhanush Artillery GunPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports Dhanush identity, 155 mm x 45 calibre description, 2019 bulk production clearance for 114 guns, NATO 155 mm ammunition compatibility, and fire-control feature descriptions. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Dhanush guns handed over to the ArmyPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the April 2019 first-gun handover at Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur and Dhanush specifications including weight, elevation, traverse, and system features. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Rajnath Singh visits Field Gun Factory KanpurPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports Field Gun Factory Kanpur's role in manufacturing barrel and breech assemblies for artillery guns and tanks, including the Dhanush gun. | Accessed: 2026-07-13AWEIL Annual Report 2024-25Publisher: Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited | Note: Supports AWEIL product-line context for large-calibre artillery systems including Dhanush, Sharang upgrades, and 105 mm LFG. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Dhanush Artillery firing imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the Dhanush image; Commons identifies the source as a Government of India work under the Government Open Data License - India. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Multiple Dhanush Artillery firing imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the additional Dhanush firing gallery image; Commons identifies the author as Government of India and lists the Government Open Data License - India, with an unreviewed Commons-license caveat. | Accessed: 2026-07-13India's Dhanush artillery gun fails in trialsPublisher: Defense News | Note: Supports Dhanush lineage by describing the 155 mm/45 calibre gun as an OFB upgrade based on original drawings of the Swedish 155 mm/39 calibre Bofors howitzers procured by India. | Accessed: 2026-07-13155 mm 45 Calibre Dhanush Gun: a reality or a mythPublisher: Centre for Joint Warfare Studies | Note: Supports Dhanush development history, including OFB's 155 mm/45 calibre development from available Bofors designs and the manufacturing/design gaps OFB had to fill. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defexpo 2022: India upgrades Dhanush towed gunsPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports the AWEIL 155 mm/52 calibre Dhanush upgrade display, 42 km range statement, less-than-14-tonne weight, barrel data, sighting upgrade, muzzle-brake change, and rate-of-fire figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-13AWEIL proposes MGS, towed gun for Indian ArmyPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports AWEIL's proposal of 155 mm/52 calibre Dhanush towed gun systems and Dhanush-armed mounted gun systems for Indian Army requirements. | Accessed: 2026-07-13