The move, if goes ahead uninterrupted, will be completed within two years. More than one thousand guns will be installed to give more teeth to the Artillery.

Though the proposal to replace existing guns with 155 mm guns were in the air for sometime, the controversy over the Bofors kickback scandal put a Kibosh on it. However, with the guns silencing Pakistanis and its critics at one go, Army think tanks have started deliberating the Artillery revamp plan once again.

In fact, Operation Vijay has changed the whole concept of Artillery's role in a war.

``Earlier, we used to give support in the form of cover fire. But in Operation Vijay we experienced with direct firing technique successfully, pointed out an officer. ``Bofors is not just a support arm, but a combat arm as well'', he added.

The accuracy of these guns helped the Army tosoften many bunker occupied by the Pakistani Army in Indian side of LoC. The impact of this tactics reflects on the lesser number of casualties in the second phase of the war.

One major operation in which Bofors guns wreaked havoc on the enemy was the offensive launched to recapture Point 4875. Following the success of this operation, the point was renamed as Gun Hill.

The war also proved that these guns could perform in a better fashion in high attitudes as shells encounter less friction in the rarefied atmosphere. While ensuing future strategies, the Army is also considering the possibility of having light Artillery move along with infantry soldiers. Moreover, field trials of self-propelled guns with a range of 17 km which are ideal for the shoot and scoot warfare, have been completed.

Other plans include procurement of Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV) for carrying out aerial reconnaissance in the enemy territory. Pakistan has already acquired RPVs. `These will help us understand enemy's gun positions andeventually will enable us to target the exact locations. The Artillery will also acquire Satellite Acquisition Target System (SATS) and Surveillance and Target Acquisition (SATA) equipment.

A major plan to introduce Sound Ranging Technique to trace the origin of enemy fire, is also in the offing. The trajectory of an approaching shell will be plotted after analysing its sound recorded with the help of microphones placed all around our own positions.

Several other revamp projects are also in the offing. The recognitions that the Artillery has received is one positive fallout of Operation Vijay. Various military attaches who were brought to Drass yesterday also had hailed Artillery role.

The attaches also evinced keen interest in various tactics employed by the Indian Army during Operation Vijay.