Dhanush during a trial at Leh
The storm over the quality of upgraded Sharang artillery guns comes close on the heels of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continuing its probe into the Dhanush gun scandal allegedly involving fake Chinese components passed off as German imports.
The Dhanush, often described as the indigenous successor to the Bofors Howitzers that proved their mettle during the 1999 Kargil War, has now become the focus of a major criminal investigation. The case, registered by the CBI, reportedly names Delhi-based Sidh Sales Syndicate for supplying critical components — specifically “Wire Race Roller Bearings” — which were sourced from China, but falsely certified as “Made in Germany.”
According to the CBI, the bearings were supplied to the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpur, despite internal quality control tests indicating serious dimensional flaws. The CBI is also reportedly probing unidentified officials of the GCF for alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery, and cheating in connection with the supply chain deception. The counterfeit parts originated from Sino United Industries (Luyang) Ltd., Henan, China, while the forged documents bore the name of a reputed German firm, CRB.
Meanwhile, former Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre has said that bearings meant for Dhanush guns were to be sourced from CRB, Germany, as per the purchase order. A preliminary investigation by the Defence Ministry revealed that Sidh Sales Syndicate, Delhi, supplied Chinese-manufactured bearings instead of German-made ones. This incident led to the Ordnance Factory Board referring the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation into the alleged violation of the purchase order.
The developments have cast a shadow on the Sharang upgrade programme, the Army’s initiative to enhance the firepower of older 130 mm artillery guns by converting them to 155 mm calibre. The Sharang guns were meant to bridge the critical capability gap until new-generation systems like Dhanush and the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) are fully inducted.
However, the artillery modernisation process is now under scrutiny.
CAG Report
Further compounding the issue, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its Report No. 6 of 2023, Union Government (Defence Services) – Army and Ordnance Factories for the year ended March 2020 , has sharply criticised the pace of artillery upgrades.
“This delay not only affects operational preparedness but also raises concerns over the efficiency of domestic defence production and procurement mechanisms,” the report reportedly warned.
Dhanush, a 155 mm towed howitzer developed by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), was hailed as a milestone in India’s self-reliance efforts in defence manufacturing. But the current controversy threatens to undermine the credibility of that claim. OFB had partnered with various private firms for the supply of critical components, a move now facing greater scrutiny in the wake of the fake parts issue.
Defence analysts point out that the issue reflects a deeper malaise in India’s artillery modernisation roadmap.
With the CBI investigation ongoing and the CAG’s audit amplifying calls for urgent reforms, the Ministry of Defence may have to undertake a thorough inquiry to get to the bottom of malaise if India wants to become a net exporter of arms in years to come.
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Published on September 18, 2025