DRDO Developing 15-Ton ATAGS with Reduced 23Ltr Chamber and Light Barrel for Enhanced Mobility

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a lighter version of its Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), aiming to provide the Indian Army with a more agile and readily deployable artillery solution.

This new Towed Gun System (TGS) is being designed with a reduced chamber capacity of 23 litres and a lighter barrel, ensuring it falls under the 15-ton weight limit mandated by the Army.

This move comes in response to the Army's increasing need for artillery systems that can be swiftly maneuvered across diverse terrains, including challenging high-altitude regions and areas with limited infrastructure. While the current 18-ton ATAGS has proven its firepower, its weight can pose logistical challenges in certain operational scenarios.

The TGS is being engineered to address this, offering a balance of firepower and mobility. By reducing the chamber size and utilizing a lighter barrel, DRDO aims to achieve the desired weight reduction without compromising the system's range or effectiveness. This enhanced mobility is expected to be a key advantage in rapid deployment situations, particularly in mountainous border areas.

The lighter TGS will not only be easier to transport by road but also more amenable to airlift, enabling faster response times in critical situations. This development aligns with the Army's plans to procure approximately 1,200 towed gun systems, starting with an initial order of 400 units.

In addition to DRDO's efforts, major Indian defence manufacturers Tata Advanced Systems and Kalyani Group are also developing their own lightweight TGS variants. Leveraging their respective technological expertise, both companies are expected to offer competitive solutions, fostering innovation and providing the Army with multiple options to choose from.

 

[Vineet Sharma]

Now they have experience and good performance record of trials.. It's better to go for VAVE but always care of certain critical parameters.. It's always difference between want and required. VAVE is just optimisation of this

 

[Satya Dev]

So after 11 years it is back to square one! Both Bharat Forge & Tata's guns weighed under 15 tons, but due to DRDO's suggestion to increase the chamber capacity from 23 to 25 litres the gun's weight went up to 18 tons.

 

[Fr@nk]

It took 10 years to realise this...

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Redesigning the heavy ploughs and hydraulics will reduce the weight by some tons. Also reduce the cabin weight and make it leaner and stronger.

 

[Sandeep]

So far the military are going to buy 300 of the ATAGS gun in it’s current heavier form which will give our military a significant advantage as it has the longest range in the world. This allows our military to hit targets in complete safety.

For the rest of the towed guns they can develop a lighter version but they should try to increase its range as much as possible.

However if TATA and Kalyani have already developed their own indigenous gun that meets our requirement then it’s a waste of time and money to develop a new variant with DRDO.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

The 25 liter Chamber gun must retain the same chamber and weight must be reduced using titanium /lighter alloys including carbon fib res. The 18 ton gun is suitable for the deserts, plains kutch region and heights upto 9000-10000 ft. Beyond those heights 15 ton lighter guns be procured. The drivers cabin must be ventilated and in splinter proof glass and metal shielding to prevent from exploding shells.

 

[Dev]

It's very much possible. By making extensive use of titanium it can be done. It has been done by BAE in making M777 Howitzers- we have them.

 

[Akshat]

The 25 liter Chamber gun must retain the same chamber and weight must be reduced using titanium /lighter alloys including carbon fib res. The 18 ton gun is suitable for the deserts, plains kutch region and heights upto 9000-10000 ft. Beyond those heights 15 ton lighter guns be procured. The drivers cabin must be ventilated and in splinter proof glass and metal shielding to prevent from exploding shells.

The 18 ton gun by itself is not suitable for anything bro. Fact is, all out GTVs are of 16 ton category. So to use these ATAGS, we have to buy fresh GTVs which won’t be compatible with our existing fleets and the entire logistics chain as well as personnel training will have to be modified. So the acquisition is highly cost prohibitive. That’s why when army asked for new trucks, MoD cut down the order size from 400 to 300 as the budget is fixed. So we either have to buy less guns or buy something else. But MoD wants army to buy DRDO’s gun which will essentially be a museum piece now.

 

[Shiva]

These efforts will make the artellary to be useful in weak soils like Indian borders with China and enhances scope to use them in naval and flying objects to make capabilities strong enough.
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