India Bolsters Defense with Acquisition of Advanced ATAGS Artillery Guns

As India confronts escalating security challenges on various fronts, New Delhi's acquisition of ATAGS artillery guns is viewed as a significant advancement in ensuring operational flexibility, enhancing firepower, and improving the capability to engage adversaries across diverse terrains.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, the ATAGS is a state-of-the-art 155 mm/52-calibre artillery system with a strike range of 45-48 km.

Beefing Up India's Military Capabilities

The newly-acquired ATAGS will not only bolster India's defence forces but also support the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, thereby contributing to the growth of India's defence manufacturing ecosystem, retired Major General Dr Rajan Kochhar, a Defence and Strategic Affairs Analyst, told Sputnik India.

"The ATAGS project, launched in 2013, was envisioned to replace older 105/130mm artillery systems with a more advanced 155mm caliber gun, as part of programme for mediumisation of the Artillery," Kochhar stated.

Thanks to the gun's cutting-edge firepower, India will get a major boost to its military capabilities by seeing its strike range widen from 30 kilometers to 48 kilometers.

"It will provide greater mobility in all kinds of terrain, enhance quicker deployment and provide a higher rate of fire, including night-firing capabilities. The Indian Army can employ this gun as a force multiplier, paving the way for future self-propelled capability, greater accuracy in target elimination, and ensuring greater sustainability in battle, thereby increasing operational readiness," he explained.

The ATAGS artillery guns outperformed existing systems like Sweden's Bofors FH77 and Britain's M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer during trials, thereby standing out from the rest, Kochhar highlighted.

"ATAGS will gradually replace older systems like [the] Bofors FH77B, 105mm and 130mm guns. It also complements other modern artillery acquisitions, creating a more formidable artillery force that can engage in precision strikes with enhanced accuracy, ensuring greater sustainability in battle," Kochhar said.

ATAGS' Strategic Importance

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System play a strategic role in beefing up India’s defence posture, retired Indian Army Lieutenant Colonel JS Sodhi, author of China's War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate, emphasised when speaking to Sputnik India.

"Artillery, often referred to as the 'God of War,' plays a crucial role in conventional warfare by providing immense firepower that facilitates infantry movements and territorial gains. The ATAGS will be particularly valuable in scenarios similar to the Kargil War, where artillery was pivotal to India's success," Sodhi asserted.

He also mentioned that the ATAGS can be deployed in a variety of terrains, ranging from the deserts and plains of Punjab and Rajasthan to the mountainous regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh—critical areas for engagements and potential conflicts. This versatility positions the ATAGS as an invaluable asset for future military operations.

Kochhar concurred, stressing that the ATAGS boasts a lighter design than older towed artillery, which makes it easier to airlift when necessary.

"It can work alongside drones and satellite-guided targeting systems in counter-insurgency operations, enhancing its effectiveness in asymmetric warfare. The gun can also be of great use during conduct of operations in UN missions abroad, giving the commander greater flexibility in its employment," Kochhar concluded.

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