Army Seeks Domestic 155mm/52 Calibre Towed Guns, Expected to Issue Request for Proposal (RFP) Soon

The Indian Army is on the cusp of a major artillery modernization drive, with the imminent release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an advanced 155mm/52 calibre towed gun system.

This development signals a decisive step towards bolstering India's indigenous defence capabilities and enhancing firepower along its borders.

Commitment to Self-Reliance​

The Indian Army's commitment to domestic procurement is evident in the recently issued Request for Information (RFI), which mandates sourcing the new towed gun system from Indian manufacturers.

This aligns with the government's ambitious 'Make in India' initiative, a cornerstone of India's defence sector transformation. By promoting domestic production, India aims to reduce reliance on foreign arms imports and foster a robust, self-sufficient defence industrial base.

Designed for India's Diverse Terrain​

The RFI outlines stringent specifications tailored to the specific operational needs of the Indian Army. The new towed guns must be versatile, capable of deployment in the plains, mountains, and deserts that characterize India's diverse geography.

Furthermore, a weight limit of less than 15 tons ensures enhanced mobility and flexibility, allowing for rapid deployment even in challenging terrain.

Seamless Integration and Strategic Focus​

Compatibility with existing ammunition streamlines the integration of the new guns into the Indian Army's artillery infrastructure.

The RFI's emphasis on operability along the northern and western borders highlights the strategic importance of these towed gun systems in bolstering India's defenses in sensitive regions.

Targeting Precision and Technological Edge​

The RFI prioritizes advanced fire control systems, including integration of GPS, inertial navigation, and day/night optical sights.

These technologies will significantly improve targeting precision, enabling the Indian Army to deliver accurate fire support in all weather conditions enhancing battlefield effectiveness.

The Future of Indian Artillery​

The upcoming RFP is set to attract significant interest from India's burgeoning defence industry. The successful acquisition of these towed gun systems will mark a significant milestone for both the Indian Army and the domestic defence sector.

This program will equip the Indian armed forces with modern, reliable, and technologically advanced artillery systems, produced indigenously, that are essential to safeguarding national security and projecting power.

 

[NSR]

RFP must go for only Indian manufacturers only and not to those who will put their brand name on foreign maals.
Much better idea - give contracts to all Indian manufacturers of Towed Gun Systems and improve them in block upgrades as time goes on.
This way India will have sufficient Howitzers to fight two fronts war.
All over world things are becoming very dire and wars are spreading like fires.

 

[kumar]

RFP must go for only Indian manufacturers only and not to those who will put their brand name on foreign maals.
Much better idea - give contracts to all Indian manufacturers of Towed Gun Systems and improve them in block upgrades as time goes on.
This way India will have sufficient Howitzers to fight two fronts war.
All over world things are becoming very dire and wars are spreading like fires.

I am sure IN would have done it like u mentioned. But, it is IA.

 

[kumar]

Backdoor entry to ATHOS. Let's grab popcorn and watch the movie as it unfolds. Unending summer, winter, rainy trails to come. Probably, extraterrestrial tests will follow. LOL. 🤣🤣🤣.

 

[Sudha]

World wide military forces are opting for mounted mobile artillery, but IA is very ancient going for towed artillery.

 

[Borodine]

RFP must go for only Indian manufacturers only and not to those who will put their brand name on foreign maals.
Much better idea - give contracts to all Indian manufacturers of Towed Gun Systems and improve them in block upgrades as time goes on.
This way India will have sufficient Howitzers to fight two fronts war.
All over world things are becoming very dire and wars are spreading like fires.

We all know that this is but a ploy to ensure that the ATHOS is imported, rebadged under an Indian name and assembled at an Adani plant. That Gujju scoundrel and his clout will be the death knell of military indigenization in India.

 

[Borodine]

World wide military forces are opting for mounted mobile artillery, but IA is very ancient going for towed artillery.

We are severely short of towed guns as well. ATAGS cleared all trials a long time ago and none have been ordered because Adani wants ATHOS to be imported. Armenia will be operating our truck mounted guns while the IA and its fanboys jerks off to content pertaining to the ancient 105mm field gun. What a joke.

 

[prabar]

Why every article in this website has this line " Is poised to take a significant step towards"

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

Shouldn't we be concentrating on mounted ones ?

 

[Hari Sud]

This weight restriction of 15 tons will keep ATAGS out…… shame.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Why insist that the gun be operational in both hot desert and cold high altitude conditions. Why cant India buy 2 kinds of artillery, 1 for western hot desert sector and 1 for northern and eastern, cold high altitude sector.

Demanding this versatlity from a any artillery gun is very demanding on the engineering. And then you go and put a weight constraint as well. You demand reliability, power range, mobility, versatility, low cost. Why dont you ask for a gun that can fire from underwater and outer space as well since we have threats there as well.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

The weight of 15 to 17 tons makes no difference in plains of PUNJAB , RAJHASTHAN , GUJARAT EVEN KASHMIR TILL HEIGHTS OF OVER 10000 ft . Roads and bridges are well designed to take weights of over 70 tons . For heights of over 14000 ft the lightweight air portable long range guns can be procurred . This is one decision the Netas and Babus must overule the army.

 

[Sandeep]

We are severely short of towed guns as well. ATAGS cleared all trials a long time ago and none have been ordered because Adani wants ATHOS to be imported. Armenia will be operating our truck mounted guns while the IA and its fanboys jerks off to content pertaining to the ancient 105mm field gun. What a joke.

India is definitely going to order the ATAGS guns this year as it can shoot and scoot. This tender is asking for a longer barrel than the previous tender with different capabilities.

 

[Ajath]

I personally feel it would be better for India to focus on inducting SPH in big numbers.
SPAAG is another weapon platform which Indian defence planners should look at. Especially at a time when cheap DRONES are calling shots. We can neither afford to loose crores worth of MBT to a 20k Drone nor waste crores worth missiles on a UCAV.

 

[Ajath]

We are severely short of towed guns as well. ATAGS cleared all trials a long time ago and none have been ordered because Adani wants ATHOS to be imported. Armenia will be operating our truck mounted guns while the IA and its fanboys jerks off to content pertaining to the ancient 105mm field gun. What a joke.

Towed Artillery are becoming less relevant in today's Battle field scenario. Ukraine has received more SPH from its allies . Russian army has lost huge quanties of Towed Artillery.

 

[GMR]

Our IA never reaches the 2nd RFI (Request For Induction).. only requests for information & then goes to sleep
No ATAGS, NO MGS, no additional tracked guns, god knows what is happening with Dhanus..

 

[PRASANTh]

India is definitely going to order the ATAGS guns this year as it can shoot and scoot. This tender is asking for a longer barrel than the previous tender with different capabilities.

What longer barrel ? 52 cal right ?

 

[Alok Gupta]

Why is the IA still going for towed guns. They should learn fromthe Russia-Ukrain war. Ukrain has used cheap drones to almost totally incapacitate Russian towed artillery. They are cheaper, but a dead piece is not worth anything. Both, Pakistan and China have invested heavily in drones and have been using them for some time.

 

[SK]

I think it would be better if Indian-Army opts for Kalyani-ULH (155x39mm) & it's truck mounted version to save cost & boost Indian defence industry.

 

[NSR]

I personally feel it would be better for India to focus on inducting SPH in big numbers.
SPAAG is another weapon platform which Indian defence planners should look at. Especially at a time when cheap DRONES are calling shots. We can neither afford to loose crores worth of MBT to a 20k Drone nor waste crores worth missiles on a UCAV.

Everything getting smashed in Ukraine.

Surely, SPH and MGS have greater mobility of shoot and scoot capabilities than the TGS.
I think India should order all the developed Indian MGSs and K9 SPHs from Korea if they offer gun technology for perhaps additional 200 SPHs and full license to manufacture.
I hope SK reads the writings on wall and assists India in defense fields.