Zuzana is Again Not for India

MO native of India rejected the proposal of Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BELM) to develop a new self-propelled howitzer on a wheeled chassis. This is due to detected corruption scandal on the occasion of the implementation of the purchase of Tatra trucks.


Zuzana 8x8 (Zuzana 2) is a variant of Slovak heavy self-propelled howitzers. The prototype took part in the tender for the supply of such weapons for the Indian army in 2011. Eventually, the Indians gave up the offer. The main problem turned out to technical considerations, and low quality howitzer, for instance, was the bursting of the barrel during firing test.


BELM in cooperation with the Slovak DMD Design Group has developed a new self-propelled howitzer for the Indian army. The prototype design was based on Zuzana howitzer, which was already in the past unsuccessfully offered to India in a separate auction.

The Indian Ministry of Defence rejected the offer BELM. The reason was a Tatra Sipox UK (Ltd), which was to be one of the subcontractors of the program. According to the records of the preliminary agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) signed between DMD and the Tatra Sipox Group, the latter was to be supplied, including chassis to the new version of Zuzana.


The reason for the reluctance of Indians to the British subcontractor is its investigation of the corruption scandal has been revealed on the occasion of the contract for the purchase by India Tatra 600 truck. Both she Tatra Sipox (part of Vectra) and its owner - Ravi Rishi took part in the whole program as an intermediary for the delivery trucks. Today, the British company is covered by the investigation conducted by the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation.