DRDO Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System

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Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)
TypeTowed Howitzer
Place of originIndia
Service history
Used byIndian Army
Production history
DesignerArmament Research and Development Establishment
Designed2010-2014
ManufacturerBharat Forge Limited
Mahindra Defence Naval System
Ordnance Factory Board
Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division[1]
Produced2019
No. built7 (prototypes)[2]
Specifications
Mass18 tonnes (18 long tons; 20 short tons)[3]
Barrel length8060 mm
Crew6-8
Caliber155 mm x 52 Cal
BreechScrew type
RecoilElectro-rheological/Magneto-rheological
Elevation-3 to +75 degree
Traverse+/-25
Rate of fireBurst: 3 rounds in 15 sec Intense: 15 rounds in 3 min Sustained: 60 rounds in 60 min
Effective firing range48.074 km[4]
Maximum firing range52.074 km (Using HE-BB or High Explosive Base Bleed ammunitions)[5][6]
SightsThermal sight. Gunners display

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED.

Development[edit]

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.[7] DRDO laboratory Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) partnered with private players Bharat Forge Limited, Mahindra Defence Naval System, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and public sector unit Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for this purpose.[8] It was part of the Development cum Production Partner programme (DCPP) of DRDO.[9]

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.[10][11][12][13]

It was first publicly showcased at 68th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2017.[2]

Design[edit]

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.[11] 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.[14][15]

Trials[edit]

  • 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.[16]
  • 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.[17]
  • During trials in 2017, ATAGS broke the world record for 155 mm 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.[18][19]
  • The gun successfully completed trials and the manufacturing of first lot of 40 guns is to start soon.[20]
  • 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[21][22][23] and in November 2020, after an investigation the gun was cleared for further trials
  • In June 2021, ATAGS successfully completed trials at 15,000 ft altitude.

Users[edit]

  • Indian Army - In August 2018, Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of 150 ATAGS with an estimated cost of ₹3,364.78 crore (US$470 million).[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "India's Two Private Firms Win $4.5 Billion Contract To Develop Artillery Gun Systems". www.defenseworld.net.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Make in India: DRDO takes pride in ATAGS, to be showcased at Republic Day parade". DNA. No. 25 January 2017. ANI.
  3. ↑ "Trials of advanced artillery gun begin in Pokhran range". The Times of India. 27 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Aero India (PDF).
  5. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (15 September 2017). "Indigenous artillery gun sets new record in range". The Hindu.
  6. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (5 September 2017). "World-record 'gun salute' to incoming defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman". Business Standard.
  7. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (29 July 2010). "155-mm gun contract: DRDO enters the fray". Business Standard.
  8. ↑ "ATAGS to be ready for user trial by early 2017: DRDO". The Economic Times. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "DRDO opens up missile production partnership for Indian private sector". The Times of India. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "Dhanush 155mm Artillery Gun: A "Make in India" Marvel". indiandefencereview.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "DRDO Embarked Major Success in Advanced Artillery Gun System". Press Information Bureau. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Projects of DRDO". Press Information Bureau. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  13. ↑ 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)
  14. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "ARDE's gun set to be on display at parade today - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ↑ "DRDO's 155 mm x 52 calibre advanced towed artillery gun test fired successfully". Financial Express. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  17. ↑ Ajai, Shukla (15 December 2016). "Indian gun booms in world's biggest artillery programme". Business Standard.
  18. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (5 September 2017). "World-record 'gun salute' to incoming defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman". Business Standard India. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  19. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (15 September 2017). "Indigenous artillery gun sets new record in range". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Tribune (7 February 2018). "Army to get 40 artillery guns made by DRDO".
  21. ↑ "INTERVIEW | Youngsters can power India into a defence technology leader: Dr Satheesh Reddy". OnManorama. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  22. ↑ Lt. Gen. J P Singh (1 October 2020). "ATAGS- A forward step towards Atamnirbharta in defence". The Financial Express (India). Retrieved 8 October 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ "indigenous artillery gun may go back to drawing board after barrel burst". Economic Times. 26 September 2020.
  24. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (25 August 2018). "Helicopter deals among ₹ 46,000 crore worth approvals by Defence Acquisition Council". The Hindu.
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