Artillery Corps: News & Discussion

[uddu]

India’s Electromagnetic Railgun: The Future Of Artillery | Defence Dynamics
The Indian Army is exploring one of the most advanced weapon systems ever developed by DRDO, the electromagnetic railgun. During a visit to ARDE Pune, the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Defence was briefed on this ambitious project. Unlike conventional artillery that relies on chemical propellants, a railgun uses powerful electromagnetic force to launch a solid projectile at hypersonic speeds of nearly Mach 6. With this programme, India joins a small group of nations working on operational railgun technology. While challenges remain in power generation and material durability, DRDO says key enabling technologies are already in place, with battlefield integration expected in the coming decade.

[sudhan]

...
May we know the questions?

Very noob questions, Ramana ji. Almost ashamed to ask here. Since I don't have any engineering background whatsoever.

But valuing knowledge more than shame here are a few...

Is it like an add-on 'kit' which can be added on to existing shells (not exactly alike but along the lines of the JDAM). If yes, can be done on the field? Also does it require any changes to the firing gun? If yes then can the gun be reconfigured quickly (in the field) to fire regular shells.

Or is it a modification which needs to be 'manufactured in' during the shell production stage.

What effect does it have on

a) storage - do these shells/the add on require special (additional) care in storage and transport (including packaging)?

b) shelf life - any difference in the shelf life of the shell and the add on kit (if they are different units). If yes can newer add on kit be added on to the older shells. And vice versa.

Added - my thoughts are that it is a very good development and very, very welcome. Hoping that all concerned stay on the R&D path to implementation and improvement. If it is a costly system then use it as tip of the spear, if not then use it as a volley of spears. But use it.

My 2 paisa..

- This will most likely not be an add on kit (like the excalibur guidance kits) there is most likely some kind of sealing needed to ensure the shell doesnt separate from the ramjet base immediately on firing.. would be interesting to know how this is actually done

- This would mean some special handling requirements with slightly stricter protection protocols for the rounds, like, better environmental seals for storage and transportation. Definitely some logistics change needed.

- Shelf life would be a factor too, IMHO, and as per my first statement, this would not be field replaceable...

Happy to be corrected on the above..

[Manish_P]

I think so too.

The images shared in earlier posts hint at it.

More info will come out in due course.

Exciting times for Indian artillery

[pravula]

Its likely similar to JDAM conversion kits. Needs to be mounted at a factory using existing shells. Not field modified like excalibur kits.

[uddu]

Its likely similar to JDAM conversion kits. Needs to be mounted at a factory using existing shells. Not field modified like excalibur kits.

IIT-M variant is like that

While there is another version from DRDO which is much more like a mini Brahmos
https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2025/0 ... wered.html

[srin]

Below is the video that explains everything. This replaces the base bleed with the ramjet. The air scoop is at the rear. Essentially, you can screw the ramjet part onto any 155mm shell. Amazing !

India Leads the World in Ramjet Shell Technology

India may have just rewritten the future of artillery warfare. In this exclusive conversation with Chakra News, Lieutenant General P. R. Shankar reveals how India became the first country to successfully fire a ramjet-powered artillery shell. Unlike global designs that trade firepower for range, this breakthrough uses a rear-intake, modular ramjet attachment that fits existing 155 mm shells. Developed through a rare Army–IIT collaboration, this innovation could redefine long-range firepower, logistics, and battlefield dominance.

[ramana]

...
May we know the questions?

Very noob questions, Ramana ji. Almost ashamed to ask here. Since I don't have any engineering background whatsoever.

But valuing knowledge more than shame here are a few...

Is it like an add-on 'kit' which can be added on to existing shells (not exactly alike but along the lines of the JDAM). If yes, can be done on the field? Also does it require any changes to the firing gun? If yes then can the gun be reconfigured quickly (in the field) to fire regular shells.

Or is it a modification which needs to be 'manufactured in' during the shell production stage.

What effect does it have on

a) storage - do these shells/the add on require special (additional) care in storage and transport (including packaging)?

b) shelf life - any difference in the shelf life of the shell and the add on kit (if they are different units). If yes can newer add on kit be added on to the older shells. And vice versa.

Added - my thoughts are that it is a very good development and very, very welcome. Hoping that all concerned stay on the R&D path to implementation and improvement. If it is a costly system then use it as tip of the spear, if not then use it as a volley of spears. But use it.

a)The current base bleed motor is factory-installed by the shell assembler. So this ramjet module is a plug-and-play replacement for the base bleed motor and will also be factory-installed.

Current base bleed motor cross section view.



The storage and transport will be similar to the base bleed motor, as the propellant is the same.
b)Should be the same as the base bleed shells for reasons already stated.

c)The module should cost the same as the base bleed shell. In fact, the cost of machining should be lower as there is no need for the intricate angle drilled nozzles and they can be replaced with a large nozzle for the ramjet.

[ramana]

Lt Gen Shankar says it's field modification and not factory installation.

I was incorrect.

[Manish_P]

Field modification

Wow. That's a proper game changer.

Hoping they stay the course to full implementation across the spectrum.

[Manish_P]

SSS defence founder had made a post referencing 'Jawab-e-hind'. An Indian answer. Referring to origins of excellent Damascus steel swords made by using ancient Indian metallurgy.

This Ramjet shell will go right to my personal list of 'Jawab-e-Hind'.

The SMART torpedo system is the other item in that list.

Hopefully the list will be a 'Navratna' list in the next few years

[sudhan]

Field modification is incredible!

when combined with a precision guided artillery shell and top notch ISR, we can dominate upto ~70 kms into the paki territory without sending a single soldier/jet or expending a costly missile

[VinodTK]

Kalyani Challenging DRDO! | Impressive Innovation | हिंदी में

Kalyani is developing a 155/52 Cal mounted gun on a 4 wheel truck; weighing only 24 tuns

[Manish_P]

Text style article of the above news

Bharat Forge Unveils World’s First 155mm/52 Artillery Gun on 4×4 Chassis

In a breakthrough that could significantly reshape India’s artillery doctrine, Bharat Forge has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first 155mm/52-calibre artillery gun mounted on a 4×4 high-mobility chassis, achieving a combination of firepower, mobility and weight reduction previously considered impractical. Weighing just 24 tonnes, the system has completed initial development and internal trials and is now set to undergo formal testing at the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Balasore, Odisha.

A New Class of Mobile Heavy Artillery

The newly developed gun system represents a radical departure from conventional mounted artillery platforms. Traditionally, 155mm/52-calibre guns — the global benchmark for long-range tube artillery — require heavy 6×6 or 8×8 trucks to absorb recoil forces and maintain firing stability. By contrast, Bharat Forge’s platform compresses the same firepower onto a compact 4×4 chassis, reducing overall mass by nearly seven tonnes when compared to the mounted variant of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), which weighs around 31 tonnes.

Strategic Mobility for the Himalayas

Military planners have long sought a heavy gun that can be rapidly deployed in high-altitude terrain, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where road width, bridge load classifications and steep gradients restrict the movement of heavier platforms. The lighter 4×4 configuration allows the gun to traverse narrow mountain roads and bridges that are inaccessible to conventional mounted systems.

The reduced weight and footprint also enhance strategic airlift capability. The system can be transported more efficiently by Indian Air Force heavy-lift aircraft, such as the C-17 Globemaster, enabling faster redeployment between theatres — a key requirement in a two-front contingency.

Firepower Without Compromise

Officials familiar with the programme indicate that the gun is expected to achieve ranges of 40–45 kilometres with standard ammunition, with the potential to exceed 50 kilometres using advanced extended-range and ramjet-assisted projectiles currently under development in India.

The system incorporates a semi-automatic loading mechanism, maintaining a high rate of fire while reducing crew fatigue and exposure. This feature is particularly important in high-altitude conditions, where physical exertion significantly affects sustained operations.

Recoil Management: The Core Challenge

The central technical question surrounding the project has been whether a 4×4 platform can withstand the intense recoil forces generated by a 52-calibre gun during sustained firing. Bharat Forge has addressed this through a combination of patented soft-recoil technology, reinforced chassis architecture and advanced hydraulic stabilisers designed to anchor the vehicle during firing sequences.

Implications for India’s Artillery Modernisation

A successful 155mm/52-calibre gun on a 4×4 chassis would introduce an entirely new category of artillery — combining long-range firepower, rapid shoot-and-scoot capability and exceptional deployability.

As the prototype moves to Balasore for its most critical evaluations yet, defence observers view the programme as a high-risk, high-reward effort (# the risk is being taken by the private company on it's own). If validated, it could redefine how heavy artillery is designed, deployed and employed — not only for India, but for modern armies worldwide.

May they get a lot of export orders. Will help funding for their R&D program.

[Rakesh]

IIT-Madras to begin work on ramjet tech to boost range of army’s rocket arsenal
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 77765.html
22 Jan 2026

The army is looking at creating a rocket force at the earliest to boost its combat effectiveness with weapons that can hit targets at longer ranges

[uddu]

IIT-Madras to begin work on ramjet tech to boost range of army’s rocket arsenal
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 77765.html
22 Jan 2026

The army is looking at creating a rocket force at the earliest to boost its combat effectiveness with weapons that can hit targets at longer ranges

Further details by Defence Decode
RAMJET powered Pinaka test in March | Range 240Km
Ramjet for Grad / Pinaka rockets (what the article says is NEXT)
This is where things change.
Rockets cannot use the exact same base-ramjet layout because:
The base is occupied during boost
At launch, the rear is:
Solid rocket motor
High-temperature exhaust plume
Structural thrust loads
So you can’t run a ramjet there at the same time.
That means rocket ramjets must be staged propulsion systems.

[Aditya_V]

I also that like Rampage there is a variant which can be aircraft launched, should give it additional range and gives the ability to make Pakistan Nishastra fast.

[uddu]

I also that like Rampage there is a variant which can be aircraft launched, should give it additional range and gives the ability to make Pakistan Nishastra fast.

There could be an aircraft launched variant of the Ramjet once it succeeds with Pinaka, going even greater range than the land launched Ramjet variant.

[Rakesh]

PULS Makes Its Debut at India’s Republic Day
https://www.elbitsystems.com/blog/puls- ... public-day
28 Jan 2026

[uddu]

https://x.com/Resonant_News/status/2017117904282800582
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚:𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗞𝗦𝗦𝗟’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀

MArG 155mm/45 Mounted Gun tested for high-altitude requirements
Built for high mobility + rapid deployment in mountains & semi-desert terrain
Range: 36+ km with conventional ammunition
Quick deployment: ~1.5 min (day) / ~2 min (night)
Carries 18 rounds onboard with Zone-6 charges for sustained fire missions
Elevation range -2° to +72° enabling direct + high-angle indirect fire
Garuda 105mm/37 system assessed for Para Brigade & rapid reaction forces
Mounted on 4x4 all-terrain vehicle with shoot-and-scoot capability
Both systems gaining international interest, boosting India’s export potential

[Prem Kumar]

BCs will keep evaluating, while foreigners will actually place orders

Kalyani should become a 100% export oriented country. Building for our DG Artillery is like casting pearls before a swine

[Manish_P]

Our arms sales are on upward trajectory. Check the new thread on Atmanirbhar Bharat.

IMHO we should have a full fledged Ministry of Arms & Ammunition Sales & Exports. Should be separate from the defence and industries ministry. Can be additional charge for Raksha Mantri but eventually have a cabinet level minister of its own.