The Indian government has approved a deal worth approximately USD 70 billion for the acquisition of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and 327 gun-towing vehicles for the Indian Army. The contract is expected to be finalized next week.
The ATAGS, a 155mm/52-calibre howitzer with a strike range of 45-48 km, was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Production will be carried out by Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, with Bharat Forge manufacturing 60% of the guns and Tata handling the remaining 40%.
The Indian Army plans to induct additional advanced versions of the ATAGS to meet a total requirement of 1,580 units. The system, which began development in 2013, underwent extensive field trials, including winter tests in high-altitude areas and summer user-firing tests at Pokhran.
India has also received export orders for the ATAGS. The system features an all-electric drive technology designed for extended maintenance-free operation.
The decision to procure additional artillery systems aligns with the Army’s efforts to enhance long-range, high-volume firepower capabilities. In December, the defence ministry signed a INR 76.29 billion contract with Larsen & Toubro, in collaboration with South Korea’s Hanwha Defence, for 100 K-9 Vajra-T self-propelled gun systems. In February, additional contracts worth INR 101.47 billion were signed for high-explosive extended-range rockets and area denial munitions for the indigenous Pinaka multi-launch rocket system.
The move is part of a broader effort to expand the Army’s artillery capabilities amid evolving security considerations.