DRDO Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System
The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems and Kalyani Strategic Systems.[7] Bharat Forge, Tata Power SED and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India are manufacturing partners.
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) | |
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![]() ATAGS during firing trials | |
Type | Towed Howitzer |
Place of origin | India |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designer | Armament Research and Development Establishment Tata Advanced Systems Kalyani Strategic Systems |
Designed | 2013-2017 |
Manufacturer | Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Bharat Forge Tata Power SED[1] |
Produced | 2019 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 18 tonnes (18 long tons; 20 short tons)[2] |
Barrel length | 8060 mm |
Crew | 6-8 |
Caliber | 155 mm/52 Cal |
Action | Auto gun alignment and positioning |
Breech | Screw type |
Recoil | Electro-rheological/Magneto-rheological |
Elevation | Servo based, -3/+75° |
Traverse | Servo based, +/-25°, 25 m diameter |
Rate of fire |
|
Effective firing range | 48.074 km[3] |
Maximum firing range | 48.074 km (using High Explosive Base Bleed ammunition)[4][5] 60 km+ (using Ramjet Propelled Artillery Shell, under development)[6] |
Feed system | Electrically operated ammunition handling |
Sights | Thermal sight Gunners display |
Maximum speed | With towing vehicle 40kmph, Self propelled 12kmph with 95kw APU |
Development
The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) project was started in 2013 by DRDO to replace older guns in service in the Indian Army with a modern 155mm artillery gun.[8] DRDO laboratory Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) partnered with private players Bharat Forge, Mahindra Defence Naval System, Tata Power SED and public sector unit Advanced Weapons and Equipment India for this purpose.[9] With ARDE as the nodal laboratory, development is being assisted by Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), and Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL).[10] It was part of the Development cum Production Partner programme (DCPP) of DRDO.[11]
The development of the gun took about 4 years and is expected to be complete by March 2017. The delay in completion of the project was attributed to realization of ordnance and recoil system and supply issue with manufacturing of sub-systems. The gun is expected to start user trials in 2017 and production is expected to start in 2019.[12][13][14][15]
It was first publicly showcased at 68th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2017.[16] For the first time, an indigenously developed howitzer gun, the ATAGS was included in the 21 gun salute alongside the British origin 25-pounder as part of the 76th Independence day celebrations. Two howitzer were included in the battery that fired the 21 gun salute.[17] ATAGS is being fast-tracked by Indian Army for induction as of 27 September 2022.[18]
Design
The gun consists of a barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to fire 155 mm calibre ammunition with a firing range of 48 km. It has an all-electric drive to ensure reliability and minimum maintenance over a long period of time. It has advanced features like high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night capability in direct-fire mode.[13] The gun is two tons lighter than guns in the same category and is designed to provide better accuracy and range and is capable of firing five successive rounds in short duration.
It is compatible with C3I systems like Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS) called Shakti for technical fire control, fire planning, deployment management, operational logistics management of the Indian Army.[19][20]
Ramjet Propelled Artillery Shell
IIT Madras along with IIT Kanpur, ARDE and Research Centre Imarat (RCI) are working on redesigning an existing 155 mm shell using ramjet propulsion that can cover 60 km+ range. It will be made compatible with ATAGS. The shell will use precision guidance kit for trajectory correction. IIT Madras will ensure that Munitions India can manufacture the shells.[6]
Trials
- DRDO conducted the proof firing of armament for the 155/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System on 14 July 2016. The test was successful.[21]
- Fully integrated, 155-millimeter artillery gun fired its first rounds of live ammunition at the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) in Balasore, Odisha on 14 December 2016.[22]
- During trials in 2017, ATAGS broke the then world record for 155 mm/52 calibre gun by firing the round to a distance of 47.2 kilometres. It again registered a maximum distance of 48.074 kilometres with high explosive–base bleed (HE–BB) ammunition, surpassing the maximum ranges fired by any artillery gun system in this category.[23][24] This has since been surpassed by M777 and later M1299 under US Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program using 58 caliber long barrel, and XM1113 rocket-assisted artillery shell.
- The gun successfully completed trials and the manufacturing of first lot of 40 guns is to start soon.[25]
- The gun underwent user trials in September 2020 and suffered a major setback with a barrel burst injuring four personnel. Investigations are on to ascertain and solve the problem[26][27][28] and in November 2020, after an investigation the gun was cleared for further trials
- In June 2021, ATAGS successfully completed trials at 15,000 feet (4,600 m) altitude.
- On May 2, 2022, the ATAGS successfully completed all field trials, paving way for induction into Army.
Variants
- DRDO ATAGS - Towed by a High Mobility Vehicle (HMV)
- DRDO MGS - It equips ATAGS on an eight-wheeled HMV developed by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).[29][30]
Users
Potential Users
India - The Indian Ministry of Defence has received a proposal worth over $1 Billion from the Indian Army, for the purchase of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), for deployment along the borders with China and Pakistan.[32]
Philippines - Reported interest to acquire the ATAGS.
See also
- List of equipment of the Indian Army
- Other towed artillery systems in use in different armies:
- M777 howitzer – British/American 155 mm towed artillery
- Haubits FH77 – Swedish 155 mm towed howitzer
- FH70 – British/German/Italian 155 mm towed howitzer
- 152 mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B – Soviet / Russian towed artillery
- Soltam M-71 – Israeli 155 mm towed howitzer
- KH179 – South Korean 155 mm towed howitzer
- SLWH Pegasus – Singaporean 155 mm towed howitzer
- AH4 howitzer – Chinese 155 mm towed artillery
- Panter howitzer – Turkish howitzer
References
- "India's Two Private Firms Win $4.5 Billion Contract To Develop Artillery Gun Systems". Defense Mirror. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- "Trials of advanced artillery gun begin in Pokhran range". The Times of India. 27 May 2019.
- Aero India (PDF).
- Peri, Dinakar (15 September 2017). "Indigenous artillery gun sets new record in range". The Hindu.
- Shukla, Ajai (5 September 2017). "World-record 'gun salute' to incoming defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman". Business Standard.
- MP, Sidharth (21 February 2020). "IIT-M working on next-gen Ramjet-powered 155mm artillery shells for Indian Army". WION. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- Kajal, Kapil (19 October 2022). "Defexpo 2022: DRDO unveils indigenous ATAGS". Janes. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- Shukla, Ajai (29 July 2010). "155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray". Business Standard.
- "ATAGS to be ready for user trial by early 2017: DRDO". The Economic Times. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- Kulkarni, Sushant. "Explained: What is ATAGS, the indigenous howitzer used in Independence Day 21-gun salute?". The Indian Express. Pune. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- "DRDO opens up missile production partnership for Indian private sector". The Times of India. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- "Dhanush 155mm Artillery Gun: A "Make in India" Marvel". indiandefencereview.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- "DRDO Embarked Major Success in Advanced Artillery Gun System". Press Information Bureau. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- "Projects of DRDO". Press Information Bureau. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- Diplomat, Franz-Stefan Gady, The. "India Successfully Tests New Advanced Artillery Gun System". The Diplomat. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Make in India: DRDO takes pride in ATAGS, to be showcased at Republic Day parade". DNA. No. 25 January 2017. ANI.
- Vats, Anushka (15 August 2022). "Explained: ATAGS, The Made-In-India Howitzer Used For 21-Gun Salute On Independence Day 2022". Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- Philip, Snehesh Alex (27 September 2022). "China threat in mind, Army to order another 100 K9 Vajra howitzers from L&T, more to follow". ThePrint. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- "ARDE's gun set to be on display at parade today - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- "DRDO's 155 mm x 52 calibre advanced towed artillery gun test fired successfully". Financial Express. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- Ajai, Shukla (15 December 2016). "Indian gun booms in world's biggest artillery programme". Business Standard.
- Shukla, Ajai (5 September 2017). "World-record 'gun salute' to incoming defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman". Business Standard India. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- Peri, Dinakar (15 September 2017). "Indigenous artillery gun sets new record in range". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- Tribune (7 February 2018). "Army to get 40 artillery guns made by DRDO".
- "INTERVIEW | Youngsters can power India into a defence technology leader: Dr Satheesh Reddy". OnManorama. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- Lt. Gen. J P Singh (1 October 2020). "ATAGS- A forward step towards Atamnirbharta in defence". The Financial Express (India). Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- "indigenous artillery gun may go back to drawing board after barrel burst". Economic Times. 26 September 2020.
- "DRDO tests mounted gun system". Janes.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- Shukla, Ajai (19 October 2022). "MGS, Light Tank, WhaP: DRDO presents 3 'Make in India' successes at DefExpo". www.business-standard.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- Singh, Dalip (12 September 2023). "Bharat Forge in talks with at least 10-12 countries for defence exports: Baba Kalyani". The Hindu.
- "Indian Army to buy 307 ATAGS howitzers for deployment along China, Pak border". ANI News. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
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