ARMY BRASS: India has named Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh as its next army chief, a government official says. The 59-year old Singh will take charge of the service on May 31 when the incumbent Gen. V.K. Singh retires from service. Bikram Singh joined the 1.3-million force after the 1971 war with Pakistan.

NEW DEHLI — In the wake of a bribery scandal, India has banned six defense firms, including four international vendors, from doing business in the country for the next 10 years, hurting the army’s plans to acquire ultra light howitzers (ULH) for its artillery units.

NEW DELHI — The Indian army has approved an order to buy 100 artillery guns from a state-owned defense manufacturer, the first such procurement of howitzers in almost two decades. “The army has placed orders with the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for procuring 100 155-mm, 52-caliber howitzers and this will be developed on the basis of transfer of technology,” says M.M. Pallam Raju, junior minister for defense.