With the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East underscoring the criticality and primacy of the artillery, the Indian Army’s artillery wing is witnessing a vital and transformative role in being a major arm of influence on the battlefield.
“It is changing from being an arm of decision to being an arm of influence… The time to engage a target has come down from about 8-9 minutes to 1-2 minutes now,” Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery, said in an interaction with defence journalists.
Among other factors, the cutting back on reaction time is due to enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
The primary thrust is to extend the range, enhance the accuracy and increase the lethality of the weapon systems along with improved ammunition. Plans are on to induct long-range suicide drones and rockets.
The effort includes the development and induction of new technologies in sighting systems, ammunition manufacturing, metallurgy, and networking of guns.
The Artillery’s transformative effort is part of the overall Indian military’s effort to modernise itself.
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“Today, we are modernising at a pace like never before and as per defined timelines. Our modernisation and capability development plan is aligned to the ‘Atmanirbharta’ drive and is based on the principle of ‘Modernisation through Indigenisation’”, the General said.
With the focus being to make the 155mm 52 calibre gun as the standard weapon, a number of 155 mm calibre guns and howitzers have been inducted in the Regiment of Artillery.
These include the Ultra-Light Howitzer (ULH), K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and the Sharang guns with most of them being deployed in the northern borders.
ULH are lighter in weight and can be carried underslung by helicopters. K-9 Vajra Gun System is ideal for mechanised operations. Dhanush Guns are an electronic upgrade of the Bofors guns, while the Sharang gun systems have been up-gunned from 130 mm to 155 mm calibre.
“More numbers of K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and Sharang gun systems are being inducted in the near future. We are also in the process of inducting other 155 mm gun systems to include Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Mounted Gun System (MGS) and Towed Gun System (TGS),” Gen Kumar elaborated.
The ATAGS, for which the contract is likely to be concluded soon, is completely indigenously designed and developed by the DRDO along with two private partners. On the other hand, the trials for both MGS and TGS are expected to begin in 2025.