Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System – Update (March, 2023)

March 8, 2023

The Indian Army has proposed the acquisition of an indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) to fill critical capability gaps in high-altitude regions. The proposal is expected to be approved by the Ministry of Defence, after which orders can be placed for 310 towed guns.

Who developed the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System?

The ATAGS has been designed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to replace the current 155 mm artillery system in service, the Bofors towed guns. This howitzer( i.e. artillery weapon that fires shells over relatively shorter distances) has undergone extensive testing by the army in various terrains and has been declared fit for induction. It’s manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Defence and Aerospace. Its acquisition could significantly enhance the Indian Army’s capabilities.

What is Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System?

The ATAGS is a Towed Howitzer. The towed howitzer falls between cannon and a mortar. It weighs 18 tonnes. It can be elevated to 75 degrees. It can fire five rounds in 60 seconds. The firing range of ATAGS is 48.074 km. The ATAGS was first displayed at the 2017 republic day celebrations.

Variants

So far India has produced two ATAGS variants. They are ATAGS – HMV. The DRDO developed this. It is towed by a high-mobility vehicle. The other variant is the ATAGS–MGS. It is pulled by an eight-wheeled HMV developed by BEML.

Observation

You can see how heavy and oversized these weapons are. And ATAGS weapons are essential for the defence camps in the borders. For this reason, the Government of India is building roads extensively in the border regions. Bridges and roads in the border region have increased by 75% in the last five years. These roads are essential to transport ATAGS like heavy weapons. The 18-tonne ATAGS is a towing weapon. It comes with an HMV to make its transport easy.

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