Indian Army to Replace 2,000+ Artillery Guns with 155mm Howitzers by 2042, Including TGS, ATAGS, Dhanush and MGS

The Indian Army is embarking on a major modernization drive, aiming to replace its aging 105mm artillery guns with advanced 155mm howitzers by 2042.

This ambitious plan, spearheaded by Lt. Gen. Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery, will see the induction of over 2,000 new artillery pieces, significantly boosting the Army's firepower and operational capabilities.

The move aligns with global artillery trends, favoring larger caliber weapons for their increased range, accuracy, and destructive power. The 155mm howitzers will provide the Indian Army with a significant advantage in conventional warfare scenarios, enabling them to effectively engage targets at greater distances and with increased precision.

This transition will involve phasing out the existing 105mm field guns, many of which have been in service for decades. The 155mm replacements will comprise a mix of indigenously developed and foreign-sourced systems, showcasing India's growing self-reliance in defence production.

Key to this modernization effort are several artillery programs already underway:

• Towed Gun System (TGS): The Army plans to acquire 1,200 TGS units, with an initial order for 400. These towed howitzers are designed for mobility and ruggedness, capable of deployment across diverse terrains. They will form the backbone of the Army's 155mm artillery force.
• Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS): Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with Indian companies, ATAGS boasts a 155mm/52 caliber barrel and has demonstrated impressive range and firepower in trials. The Army has issued a tender for 307 ATAGS units.
• Dhanush: Based on the Bofors howitzer, the Dhanush is a 155mm gun renowned for its accuracy and long-range capabilities. With 114 Dhanush guns slated for induction by 2026, the first regiment of 18 guns is already operational near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Mounted Gun System (MGS): This system features a 155mm gun mounted on a wheeled chassis, providing high mobility and rapid deployment capabilities for fire support in various operational environments.

The standardization of artillery to the 155mm caliber will bring several benefits, including simplified logistics, enhanced firepower, and increased operational flexibility. It will also streamline ammunition and spare parts management, leading to greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Furthermore, the emphasis on indigenous development, as seen with ATAGS and Dhanush, strengthens India's domestic defence industry and reduces reliance on foreign suppliers. This initiative marks a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in critical defence technologies.

This comprehensive artillery modernization program underscores the Indian Army's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and ensuring its readiness to meet future security challenges.

 

[linus52]

There should No foreign guns purchased period. All requirement produced in India by Indian companies

 

[Bard of Anarchy]

Is it so hard to build dhanush in bulk?

Also We should give our 105mm artillery to armenia.

 

[Satya Dev]

AWEIL & AVNL were given a contract to upgrade 300 M46 guns (out of the 1000 nos in IA inventory) to Sharang 155mmx45cal in 2018, but they have supplied only 26 so far. Also out of the 114 Dhanush 155mmx45cal guns ordered on them even before that they have supplied only 24-30 so far - with such slow rate of delivery why does MOD not cancel these orders. Kalyani group can do the job very fast.

 

[Mithu Roy]

Why don't we convert 105 mm into MSG using TATA or Leyland chassis and deploy at border areas to beef up fire power

 

[NSR]

17+ years is just too ridiculous to even read...

India needs thousands of Howitzers so immediately dole out contracts to all who manufacturing ATAGS, Mounted Gun Systems, FH-777, Danush, Sarang, etc and let them build and improve with feedback from Indian Army.
They can cut the timeframe by half for sure.

Just do not depend on PSUs and their new NAME companies.

 

[Satya Dev]

Why don't we convert 105 mm into MSG using TATA or Leyland chassis and deploy at border areas to beef up fire power

Out of the 2400 pieces of 105mm arty guns, 700 guns are Light Field Guns (LFGs). Kalyanis have already developed Garuda 105 (version 2) – a 105 mm/37 calibre LFG gun mounted on a Bharat Forge Made all terrain vehicle's 4X4 wheeled chassis. This gun has soft recoil, all-terrain maneuverability (including high altitude) & shoot-n-scoot capability.

 

[Sandeep]

While the artillery needs a significant upgrade and we need more 155mm guns to enhance our fire power.

At the same time we shouldn’t completely abandon or not develop any future 105mm artillery guns. The reason is because the rounds are cheaper, gun weighs less, quick to mobilise, easy to change positions, requires less powerful towing trucks and not every target requires such a powerful round and we don’t always need the long range of the 155mm gun. We need to have a balance and variety for our military to choose the best gun based on the type of threat.

 

[Jay K Sinhal]

Instead of four different types of guns of the same caliber, they should go for one of them to standardize.

 

[Kira]

Also We should give our 105mm artillery to armenia.

The issue is drones that are in service with the Azeris,artillery guns no matter their size have no way to counter small and nimble FPV drones.During the 2020 war,the Armenian had old Soviet guns,but which were destroyed by Azeri drones supplied by Turkey and Israel.
Even the IA needs to develop serious counter measures to counter these drones which are sure to be deployed en masse by the enemy in future.

 

[Kira]

2042,that is about 18 years is just too long even by typical Indian standards,and I mean with the PSUs at the helm,you can be sure that will happen,but with higher private sector participation and alongside the increased capital spending gains through Agniveer scheme,I think they should ideally wrap all big gun contracts within the next 12 or so years.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

During Gen Deepak kapoor's tenure the artillery modernizationand plan 2012 -2027 was to ensure complete rearmament of 155 mm guns by 2027 -28 . The completion now seems to be postponed to 2042 a good 15 years more . This time frame needs to be compressed and reduced to less than 7 years and must be completed by 2030-33.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

Why don't we convert 105 mm into MSG using TATA or Leyland chassis and deploy at border areas to beef up fire power

Probably a mistake to abandon the 105 mm caliber. Upgrading their fire control systems and mounting them on medium trucks can be achieved cost-effectively. The cost and weight benefits of 105 mm ammo VS 155 mm ammo can be a big advantage for suppressive fires.