Armenia is set to substantially strengthen its military arsenal with a planned purchase of 80 additional Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) from India.
This move follows the successful operational integration of an initial batch of 12 guns delivered in 2023 by India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), reflecting a deepening strategic and defence partnership between the two nations.
Following the delivery of the first 12 units, the Armenian armed forces subjected the 155mm/52-calibre howitzers to extensive field trials across the country’s challenging landscapes, from high-altitude mountain ranges to vast plains.
Sources confirm that the artillery systems performed exceptionally, demonstrating high mobility, reliability, and long-range precision. The ATAGS, which can fire high-explosive ammunition up to 48 kilometres, proved its effectiveness, prompting Armenia’s decision to expand its fleet.
A significant factor in Armenia’s satisfaction has been KSSL’s flexibility in meeting specific operational needs.
For the initial batch, the Indian manufacturer customised the gun’s Trajectory Computation Module (TCM) to include an Armenian-language interface, making it more user-friendly for local crews.
This willingness to adapt the system, combined with its proven performance, has positioned the ATAGS as an ideal modern replacement for Armenia’s aging Soviet-era D-30 122mm and 2A65 Msta-B 152mm howitzers.
The Indian-made ATAGS offers superior range, accuracy, and rate of fire compared to the older systems.
The timing of Armenia's planned procurement is advantageous. KSSL is currently preparing for the mass production of ATAGS to fulfil a major contract for the Indian Army, which finalised an order for 307 units on March 26, 2025.
This large-scale production run, valued at approximately $830 million, is expected to create economies of scale, thereby lowering the per-unit cost for all customers, including Armenia.
The ATAGS is a state-of-the-art towed howitzer developed indigenously by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with private sector firms Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
This deal underscores India's emergence as a significant and reliable supplier of advanced defence equipment on the global stage, particularly for nations looking to diversify their military hardware sources.
