Army Intends To Purchase 310 Indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System

The Indian Army has proposed acquiring indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) capable of being deployed at high altitudes and filling critical capability gaps.

According to people familiar with the situation, the defence ministry is expected to approve a proposal to acquire 310 such towed guns, after which orders can be placed.

ATAGS was designed by DRDO to replace the current mainstay 155 mm artillery system in service, the Bofors towed guns, and has been extensively tested by the army in various terrain, from desert areas to high altitude ranges in Sikkim, and has been declared fit for induction.

Bharat Forge and Tata Defence and Aerospace will manufacture these howitzers.

Following the normal procurement procedure, two DRDO development partners will be invited to submit commercial bids. The lowest bidder would most likely receive 60 per cent of the order, with the other company receiving the balance if it agreed to match the lowest price bid.

Given the Ladakh border crisis with China, the guns' high altitude performance is critical. The army conducted tests such as sustained firing drills at over 13,000 feet using only the backup battery and checking performance at extremely low temperatures.

NATO standard guns have a chamber size of 23 litres, whereas the ATAGS has a chamber size of 25 litres, giving it a slightly longer range of 48 kilometres. Because of the non-standard chamber, these guns may require bespoke ammunition, as the extended size places additional strain on existing ammunition.

Direct fire on tank-sized targets during the day and night, sustained firing of 60 rounds per hour, tests for five-round bursts, and a rapid-fire rate of firing was among the tests carried out.

While commercial offers have yet to come in, the guns are expected to cost at least Rs 18 crore per piece.