In 1999, the Indian Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) was conceived, with the ambitious goal of acquiring 2,800 x 155mm artillery guns by 2027. However, only eight per cent of the planned 2,800 guns have reportedly been acquired till now and 17 per cent of the proposed number under multiple proposals have been handed over to the Indian Army. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has adversely commented on this extremely slow pace of modernisation of the artillery.

But now there is news of the Indian Army being equipped with the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), which was developed to replace the 155mm x 39 calibre Bofors FH-77B howitzers inducted into the Indian Army in 1986. The ATAGS, developed for the India Army by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advance Systems Limited (TASL) and Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), is a 155mm/52 calibre towed artillery system. Bharat Forge and KSSL are the development and manufacturing partners for the project. The ATAGS project was started in 2013 by the ARDE under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The ATAGS was first publicly showcased at 68th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2017. Both the prototypes of TASL and KSSL was part of the parade. The ATAGS was included in the 21-gun salute alongside the British-origin 25 pounder as part of the 76th Independence Day celebrations. Two ATAGS howitzers were included in the battery that fired the 21-gun salute. The ATAGS has undergone extensive field trials, successfully completing all evaluations as of May 2022, and is expected to be inducted into service with an order for “307 units” by FY2025.

The ATAGS gun is towed by Ashok Leyland FAT 6x6 truck and can change over from towing mode to firing mode within two minutes. The capabilities of the ATAGS are impressive. It boasts a range of 35 km with its Extended Range Sub-Bore Boat Tail (ERFB BT) ammunition and up to 45 km with its ERFB Base Bleed (BB) rounds. During the trials in 2017, the ATAGS achieved a record-breaking range of 47 km. The weapon’s ability to deliver intense rates of fire is another standout feature: it can launch 10 high-explosive shells in just 2.5 minutes and 5 rounds in 60 seconds as a burst. All of this makes it an incredibly lethal system that would provide a boost to the Indian Army’s combat capabilities.

The ATAGS boasts impressive capabilities, including a firing range of up to 45 km with Extended Range Base Bleed rounds

According to media reports of November 22, 2024, Bharat Forge has emerged as the lowest bidder for a contract valued at approximately ₹7,000 crore (about US$ 840 million) for the ATAGS. The contract is expected to be split between Bharat Forge and TASL in a 60:40 ratio. This procurement plan follows a tender issued for 400 towed gun systems to kickstart the Indian Army’s long-stalled artillery modernisation programme, which has faced criticism for slow progress over the past two decades.

Bharat Forge has said that the deal could be finalised before the end of the 2024-25 financial year. The ATAGS has proved successful during trials, including firing exercises, from the deserts of Rajasthan, on the border with Pakistan, to the cold heights of Sikkim, along the frontier with China. The induction of ATAGS into the Indian Army not only be an technical upgrade but also represent indigenisation of the entire artillery acquisition programme under ‘Make in India’.

Another good news on the ATAGS front is, openings on the export front for this system. Following successful trials of the initial quantity six ATAGS, Armenia has entered into advanced talks with Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) to procure 78 additional ATAGS units. According to Armenia’s media reports, the six ATAGS imported by Armenia have already been deployed. The six ATAGS delivered to Armenia in 2023 are reported to have demonstrated exceptional performance across various terrains in Armenia, including high-altitude mountainous regions and plains. The additional 78 ATAGS are planned to be acquired based on feedback of Armenian military personnel. Notably, the ATAGS have been adapted by Armenian military units to include a user interface in the Armenian language, enhancing usability for local operators.

This ATAGS deal not only signifies a strengthening defence collaboration between Armenia and India but also highlights India’s growing role as a supplier of advanced defence technologies in Eastern Europe, where there is a demand for cost-effective and versatile solutions. There is a possibility of more East European countries wanting the ATAGS, knowing that the Indian Army has trial evaluated the system extensively in diverse terrain.

India has also offered the ATAGS to the Philippines. It is a truck-mounted selfpropelled artillery variant with ATAGS mounted on an 8×8 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) developed by Bharat Earth Movers limited (BEML), with the gun weighing 30 tonnes has also been developed.