Sunny Jerome
In a significant boost to India’s defence capabilities, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a major deal worth around Rs 7,000 crore on Wednesday for the acquisition of advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS) for the Indian Army. This deal is a major step forward for India’s self-reliant defence manufacturing capabilities.
The deal, which involves the procurement of 307 ATAGS howitzers, will equip 15 artillery regiments of the Indian Army. The advanced 155mm/52-calibre howitzers have an impressive strike range of 45-48 kilometers, making them a significant asset in India’s artillery arsenal. Additionally, 327 gun-towing vehicles will be part of the procurement. Sources have indicated that the contract is expected to be finalized by next week.
The ATAGS system, which has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will be produced by two key Indian defence companies: Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems. Bharat Forge will take the lead, producing 60% of the total guns, as it emerged as the lowest bidder (L-1), while Tata Advanced Systems will handle the production of the remaining 40%.
With this approval, India is on track to enhance its artillery units with domestically produced, cutting-edge artillery technology, significantly improving operational efficiency and self-sufficiency in the defence sector.
