The 155mm/52-calibre ATAGS have been designed and developed by DRDO and will be produced by private defence firms Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systemsread moreIndia’s government has approved a long-awaited deal worth around Rs 7,000 crore ($840m) for the acquisition of indigenous advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS) for the army, marking a significant step in the country’s push to develop its own defence manufacturing capabilities.The contract, cleared by the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday (March 19), will see the army acquire 307 howitzers with a strike range of 45-48km, along with 327 gun-towing vehicles to equip 15 artillery regiments, The Times of India reported citing top sources. The agreement is expected to be finalised next week.AdvertisementStrengthening homegrown firepowerThe 155mm/52-calibre ATAGS have been designed and developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be produced by private defence firms Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems. Bharat Forge, which emerged as the lowest bidder, will manufacture 60 per cent of the guns, while Tata will produce the remaining 40 per cent.This order is expected to be the first of many, as the army plans to induct further advanced versions, with a total requirement of 1,580 such guns.The ATAGS programme, which began in 2013, has undergone extensive testing, including winter trials in high-altitude regions of Sikkim in 2021-22 and summer firing tests at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan.A troubled history of artillery procurementIndia’s efforts to modernise its artillery have been repeatedly derailed by corruption scandals in past foreign acquisitions.The Swedish Bofors deal of the 1980s, the South African Denel controversy in 2005, and a 2009 case involving Singapore’s ST Kinetics have all left the country wary of relying on imports.The push for indigenous production aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, which aims to reduce dependence on foreign defence suppliers and boost domestic manufacturing.An official aware of the development told Firstpost that the army is committed to supporting domestic defence firms in developing weaponry that meets its stringent operational requirements, which span diverse terrains and climatic conditions.“While some Indian-made guns have been exported, all manufacturers must comply with the army’s technical and performance standards before induction into active service,” they said.AdvertisementMore from India
In a big defence boost, Modi Cabinet approves Rs 7,000 acquisition of India-made artillery guns
Indian stock market boosted by bulls! Sensex surges 900 points, Nifty breaches 23K mark
Was actor Sushant Singh’s manager Disha Salian raped, murdered?
Elon Musk’s X challenges India’s ‘unlawful’ censorship mechanism in Karnataka High CourtEnd of Article
View original article:
In a big defence boost, Modi Cabinet approves Rs 7,000 acquisition of India-made artillery guns
