New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led cabinet committee on security on Wednesday cleared the around Rs 7,000 crore deal to acquire advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS).
The deal is being seen as a significant step in the defense corridors, as it is one of the most important developments in India’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities under Modi’s vision for a self-reliant defense industry, as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The contract for 307 howitzers, which have a strike range up to 45-48-km, and 327 gun towing vehicles to arm 15 artillery regiments of the Army, is expected to be inked next week, official sources said.
According to official sources, the ATAGS was developed through a collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private industry partners, Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems.
The gun system is being described as testament to India’s growing capabilities in defense technology, with over 65% of its components sourced domestically, including the critical barrel, breech mechanism, firing system, and even the Navigation System and Muzzle Velocity Radar.
These indigenously developed features will reduce the country’s reliance on foreign suppliers, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative of PM Modi initiative.
The contract distribution , officials said, saw Bharat Forge, which emerged as the lowest bidder, receiving 60% of the deal, while Tata Advanced Systems receiving the remaining 40%.
Sources said that beyond its military significance, the ATAGS project will create an estimated 20 lakh man-days of employment, strengthening India’s defense-industrial ecosystem.
The technology and expertise developed for this project will position India as a potential exporter of such systems in the future, enhancing its presence in the global defense market.
The ATAGS is a 155 mm, 52-caliber towed howitzer, capable of striking targets up to 45-48 km away, offering enhanced accuracy, firepower, and mobility. Its advanced automation reduces crew fatigue and improves response time, making it ideal for rapid deployment in challenging terrains, including high-altitude and border regions.
India’s strategic move to manufacture and deploy the ATAGS comes after years of rigorous trials that began in 2013. While the full-fledged version of the gun was unveiled in 2016, it was only in 2020 that the system successfully completed winter trials in Sikkim and desert trials in Rajasthan, among others. A significant milestone was reached during the second phase of the winter trials, when the gun was moved and used in one of the most Northernmost operational areas of the country in North Sikkim, covering more than 340 km in difficult conditions.
Globally, similar artillery systems are in use by various countries, such as the U.S. M777 howitzer, the French Caesar self-propelled howitzer, and the Russian 2S19 Msta. The development and successful deployment of the ATAGS solidifies India’s growing position in the international defense market. With its advanced technology and long-range capabilities, the ATAGS has the potential to be exported to India’s allies, making India a competitive player in the global defense sector, something which has more or less eluded it so far.