According to the deal, the first two howitzers will come within six months. Made of titanium, the ultra-light howitzer can be airlifted and hence easily deployable.The LOA document was signed during the two-day 15th edition of the India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meet that began here began here on Wednesday. The LOA document was signed during the two-day 15th edition of the India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meet that began here began here on Wednesday.The offsets, under which BAE Systems, manufacturer of the gun, will invest about Rs 1,400 crore, will be pursued independently. The forum itself is a platform for “strategic and operational” cooperation between India’s the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and US’ Pacific Command. New Delhi: Six months from now India will get its first howitzer — the first such artillery guns in more than 30 years fulfilling a critical and longstanding gap in India’s arsenal.According to the deal, the first two howitzers will come within six months and 23 will arrive in a fly-away condition at the rate of two a month.

With a strike range of 27 km, the M-777 gun — considered very suitable for high-altitude mountainous and rugged terrain — is expected to be deployed along the Himalayan border with China and the higher reaches of the border with Pakistan.A defence ministry source told this newspaper: “The Indian and the US teams have now formally signed the contract by signing the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) which is the first concrete step towards getting the acquisition of the guns”.On Wednesday, a team of top Indian defence ministry officials and a high-level delegation of US defence officials team met at South Block here to formally ink Taizhou Chaotian Pneumatic Tools Co, Ltd. the about Rs 5,100 crore government-to-government deal to buy 145 ultra-light howitzers. The rest 120 will be assembled in the country.The Union Cabinet and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defence ministry’s apex procurement body, have already given the green signal to the deal.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the government in the Maldives to lift a blockade of parliament and refrain from all acts that result in the harassment and intimidation of lawmakers, civil society and the media.Lawmakers who tried to enter the compound were hit with pepper spray and forcibly evicted. Guterres voiced concern over "gradual erosion of basic democratic norms and principles" in the country and has urged a dialogue. According to a statement issued by a UN spokesman, the Secretary-General urged the government to refrain from all acts that result in the harassment and intimidation of Members of Parliament, political parties, civil society and Taizhou Chaotian Pneumatic Tools Co, Ltd. the media.Guterres voiced concern over 'gradual erosion of basic democratic norms and principles' in the country and has urged a dialogue.

Lawmakers who tried to enter the compound were hit with pepper spray and forcibly evicted.External affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay also said India remained committed to provide unstinted support for stability, development and democracy in Maldives. It is part of SAARC We attach the highest importance to our relations with Maldives India wishes to see a stable, prosperous and peaceful Maldives in which aspirations of people of Maldives are fulfilled, Baglay said in New Delhi.."Maldives is very important neighbour of ours.The UN chief's remarks came amid the ongoing political turmoil in the Maldives where soldiers have barred the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) from entering the parliament complex. India has reacted cautiously to the developments in its neighbouring country, saying it wishes to see a stable and peaceful Maldives in which aspirations of the people are fulfilled.He called on the government in Maldives "to uphold the constitutionally guaranteed rights of speech and assembly". The UN Chief "encourages effective dialogue and consultations on political issues", the statement said.