Indian Army to Finalize Rs 8,000 Crore Deal for 307 Indigenous 155mm/52 ATAGS Howitzers by March 2025, Army Chief Confirms

The Indian Army is set to acquire a significant boost in firepower with the impending procurement of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) howitzers. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi confirmed this development during his annual press conference ahead of Army Day, stating that the Rs 8,000 crore deal is expected to be finalized by March 2025.

"If all goes as planned, we aim to sign the ATAGS contract before the end of this financial year," General Dwivedi announced. This procurement marks a major step in the Indian Army's artillery modernization efforts and its commitment to indigenous defence production.

The ATAGS is a state-of-the-art 155mm/52 calibre howitzer developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Bharat Forge and the TATA Group. Bharat Forge emerged as the lowest bidder, and negotiations with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are currently underway.

Under the MoD's procurement plan, 60% of the contract is expected to be awarded to Bharat Forge, while the remaining 40% may go to the TATA Group if it matches the price quoted by Bharat Forge. This approach ensures competitive pricing and encourages wider participation in indigenous defence manufacturing.

The ATAGS boasts a range of 35 to 45 kilometers, depending on the ammunition used, and has even achieved a firing range of 47 km during trials. Its induction will significantly enhance the Indian Army's artillery capabilities, providing long-range precision strike capabilities.

This procurement aligns with the government's "Aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) initiative in defence, with General Dwivedi emphasizing the Army's commitment to indigenous platforms. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system with extended-range ammunition, potentially reducing reliance on other long-range systems.

In addition to the ATAGS and Pinaka, the Army is also expanding its fleet of 155mm/52 calibre K9 Vajra-T self-propelled tracked artillery guns. A recent contract with Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) will see the procurement of 100 additional K9 Vajra guns, manufactured under license from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense.

 

[sanket]

Only 307, that too if every thing Goes well

 

[Satya Dev]

For around same amount they ordered 100 K9 SPH from LT-Gujarat's screw driver assembly plant and LT will make more than 200% profit under the ATMANIRBHAR scam!

 

[Enforcer]

For around same amount they ordered 100 K9 SPH from LT-Gujarat's screw driver assembly plant and LT will make more than 200% profit under the ATMANIRBHAR scam!

I think you are forgetting that entire tank chassis also costs money.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Please do this immediately, it's been decades since we procured new guns,

155/52 calibre ATAGS guns and their designs are getting old now with the OEM waiting for years

not sure what we were waiting for? laser cannons or plasma guns to be invented?

 

[Sandeep]

For around same amount they ordered 100 K9 SPH from LT-Gujarat's screw driver assembly plant and LT will make more than 200% profit under the ATMANIRBHAR scam!

Stop lying! This is why everyone hates the corrupt jihadi party. The K9 we received had over 70% of indigenous content and technology transfer and in time we can increase that even further in time.

Also prove that LT were just screw driving these guns and received 200% profit! I doubt you will.

 

[Sandeep]

This order for 307 guns is atleast 2 years behind schedule. Heck, static artillery itself has become questionable in recent years.

We should have gone with either self-propelled artillery, or with mounted artillery at the least, with a smaller share of static artillery.

Still, even with static artillery, we should have been looking at inducting or having about a thousand of these guns on order by now, not this 307, which, while helpful, is still only a bucket-ful in the swimming pool.

These guns can shoot and move positions after every shot if needed so these aren’t static guns that fixed to the ground at all. We already have 100 K9 guns with another 100 on order and possibly another 100 after that which meets the SPH requirements. Also we will be ordering truck mounted guns as well once they finish developing them which shouldn’t take too long so most of our artillery guns are manoeuvrable and not static at all.

 

[Sandeep]

These guns are a critical requirement as it has the longest range in the world and they are very accurate, reliable, efficient and effective. This gives us a massive advantage over the enemy as we can fire in complete safety without our guns being targeted or placed under threat. This gun has been 100% indigenously designed, developed and manufactured in India which is what we urgently needed.

The only issue is that it weighs a bit more but they should be able to reduce the weight in later orders that will be given.

 

[Sridhar]

For around same amount they ordered 100 K9 SPH from LT-Gujarat's screw driver assembly plant and LT will make more than 200% profit under the ATMANIRBHAR scam!

I guess you are probably the only person who is talking about a scam. Is it a crime for any company to make a profit? HAL, a PSU, also makes a profit. The Su-30 MKI manufactured by HAL is definitely costlier than manufacturing in Russia. That's natural. Recently, the INS Tushil warship is on its way to India after being built in Russia. Warships are also built in India. Why don't you add that to your fictitious list of scams? Matlab Kuch bhi???

And business is done to make a profit. There are institutions for doing charity. And how did you get the figure of 200% profit? Why not 199 or 201%? Is 200 a holy number for you?

 

[Sridhar]

For around same amount they ordered 100 K9 SPH from LT-Gujarat's screw driver assembly plant and LT will make more than 200% profit under the ATMANIRBHAR scam!

The agreement signed with L&T is for assembling these guns. L&T are not tasked to design and develop a new howitzer. So everybody knows world is round, we are living in Earth. Earth is spherical. L&T assembles K9 howitzers.
Tell us something we don't know already. And try to speak truth if possible.

 

[Anant]

This order for 307 guns is atleast 2 years behind schedule. Heck, static artillery itself has become questionable in recent years.

We should have gone with either self-propelled artillery, or with mounted artillery at the least, with a smaller share of static artillery.

Still, even with static artillery, we should have been looking at inducting or having about a thousand of these guns on order by now, not this 307, which, while helpful, is still only a bucket-ful in the swimming pool.