View source for Bhim self-propelled howitzer

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Bhim Self Propelled Howitzer
| image= Bhim SPH side view.jpg
| image_size = 240
|caption=Side view of the Bhim SPH prototype
|origin= South Africa/India
|type=[[Self-propelled artillery]]
|is_vehicle=yes
|is_artillery=yes
|design_date=1994
|production_date= 1999-
| traverse           = 360°<ref name="military-today1"/>
|wars=
|max_range={{convert|52|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="military-today1"/>
|length={{convert|12.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="military-today1">{{cite web|author=ARG |url=http://www.military-today.com/artillery/bhim.htm |title=Bhim 155-mm Prototype Self-Propelled Howitzer |publisher=Military-Today.com |access-date=2013-05-13}}</ref>
|width={{convert|4.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="military-today1"/>
|height={{convert|3.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="military-today1"/>
|weight=Combat: {{convert|54|t|ST|abbr=on}}
|suspension=[[hydropneumatic]]
|speed=Road: 60 km/h (38 mph)<ref name="military-today1"/><br />Off-road: 45&nbsp;km/h (28&nbsp;mph)
|vehicle_range=450 km (281 mi)<ref name="military-today1"/>
|unit_cost=US$4.5 million
|primary_armament=[[Denel]] 155 mm L52 [[G5 howitzer]]<br />(50 rounds)
3 rounds in 9.0 seconds (Burst)<br/> 8 round/min
|secondary_armament= [[FN MAG|MAG]] [[7.62 × 51 mm NATO|7.62 mm]] machine gun<ref name="military-today1"/>
|armour=welded steel, [[14.5 mm]] resistant<br/> additional bomblet protection
|engine=MTU 838 Ka-501
|crew=4 (commander,loader, driver and gunner)
|engine_power=1400 hp(1000 kW)
|pw_ratio=26 hp/t
}}

The '''Bhim self-propelled howitzer''' is a type of [[self-propelled artillery]] developed by the [[South Africa]]n company [[Denel]] under the supervision of  the [[India]]n [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]]. It was designed to meet the [[Indian Army]]'s requirements for self-propelled artillery units.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/army-assures-orders-for-drdo-howitzers_780954.html |title=Army assures orders for DRDO Howitzers |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=2012-06-10 |access-date=2013-05-13}}</ref> The howitzer is named after [[Bhima]], one of the main protagonists and brother to [[Arjuna|Arjun]] of the [[Indian epic poetry|Indian epic]] "[[Mahabharata]]".

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
The Bhim artillery system was developed by the Indian [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] in the 1990s. Trials of the Bhim artillery system were successfully conducted in 1998 and 1999, but its development remained on pause for over ten years, as [[Denel]] was blacklisted by the Indian government.

==Development==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
Bhim is a self-propelled howitzer. It consists of the Denel T6 turret mounted on an [[Arjun MBT]] chassis. It was developed and tested successfully and was cleared for production but was put on hold after Denel was banned from working on the project.

=== Specifications ===
The Indian army required 400 mounted 155-mm /52 howitzer, of which 200 would be mounted on the Arjun chassis and another 200 to be mounted on modified TATRA trucks.

The Bhim artillery system has a fully automatic ammunition loading system<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencenow.com/news/453/indias-self-propelled-artillery-project-bhim-to-get-a-new-lease-of-life.html |title=Indias Self-Propelled Artillery Project Bhim To Get a New Lease of Life |publisher=Defence Now |date=2012-01-04 |access-date=2013-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109170407/http://www.defencenow.com/news/453/indias-self-propelled-artillery-project-bhim-to-get-a-new-lease-of-life.html |archive-date=2013-11-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as a turret-mounted auxiliary power unit, which powers all systems.<ref name="military-today1"/> The Bhim's primary armament is a Denel 155{{nbsp}}mm howitzer gun, while its secondary armament consists of a single 7.62{{nbsp}}mm machine gun.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

[[Category:Self-propelled howitzers of India]]
[[Category:155&nbsp;mm artillery]]
[[Category:Tracked self-propelled howitzers]]

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