Artillery Corps: News & Discussion

[Ankit Desai]

ANI: Order of 307 ATAGS by March 31 '24 : DRDO chairman Dr Samir V Kamat

-Ankit

[Pratyush]

Wake me up when the order is actually placed.

[bala]

Indian Defense Analysis claims IIT & Munition India ltd. to develop Indian Excalibur munition with 50times more accuracy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A89ScBe6nz0

[Pratyush]

It means that the technology incubation at IIT-M has reached its logical conclusion and is ready for prime time.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/iitmadras/status/1754392995158524304?s=20 ---> In an effort to bring indigenization in India's defence sector, @iitmadras will be partnering with @IndiaMunitions, to develop India’s first indigenously designed 155mm smart ammunition. The objective is to increase the accuracy of the 155mm shell within a CEP of 10 metres.

https://x.com/sdhrthmp/status/1754401522375696889?s=20 ---> 155mm artillery shell that will be guided by ISRO NavIC satellites, offering 50x more accuracy. Range 8 - 38 km. Can be used in existing guns without any changes. Fin-stabilised, canard-controlled, guided shell. Roll out in ~ 2 years by IIT Madras and Munitions India (https://munitionsindia.in/)

[Tanaji]

UK increases shell production 8 fold:

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain ... ight-fold/

Sincerely hope India has as well , but knowing our history I don’t have much hopes.

[Aditya_V]

Well our generals might be sleeping at least the Saudis are helping out.

Big Win For Indian Defence Export: Massive $225 Million Ammo Deal Inked With Saudi Arabia

I think after M-777 deal I think some parts of the BAE UK order also includes manufacturing those shells in India. Bein sensitive I think we have to keep quiet of some of this, but some of the shells manufactured by Munitions India and supplied to Nato countries ended up in Ukraine.

So its a tight balancing act were we cannot announcing everything we publically.

But reading what Information available Munitions India has turned around from loss making to profit making, that cannot be without production and orders.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePa ... ID=1821156

[Pratyush]

https://idrw.org/indian-army-gets-green ... -vehicles/

Published February 11, 2024

Army green lights a not ATAGS 155 mm procurement program.

Why create a circus of every procurement.

[srai]

^^^
Yet again

[Aditya_V]

Meanwhile, French Ceaser systems seem to be firing Munitions India made EEFRB 155 mm rounds as per some online reports. It's all cloak and daggers right now, seems NATO is diverting India made Ammo which has been exported to 3rd countries.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1757254 ... 85713?s=20 ---> Akash, Chinook + M777.

https://x.com/Firezstarter1/status/1757 ... 92308?s=20 ---> In this picture, one area where we did right thanks to grit and persistence, one area where we have multiple options but are just blundering about, another area where we don't have a comparable platform yet.

https://x.com/daeroplate_v2/status/1757 ... 79100?s=20 ---> Nowhere else in the Top 50 militaries, would such a meandering level of incompetence be tolerated as in our artillery force planning and acquisition. Its worse than a badly run municipal office with half the people on leave and other half running their own side hustle.

[Pratyush]

https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia ... -howitzer/

Published on 15th February 2024

Norinco unveils a truck mounted, turreted 155 mm howitzer.

Also the PLA has now 600 PL 181 truck mounted 155/52 howitzers.

While the DG arty has spent the last 5 years cribbing about the ATAGS weight. While running around in circles.

[Prem Kumar]

War is too important to be left to the Generals

If there is 1 area where Modi Ji must step in & crack the whip, post LS 2024 (Insha Ganesha), it is this

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Firezstarter1/status/1759 ... 95552?s=20 ---> Major General Atanu Pattnaik (retd) openly stating his perception of the TGS being absolutely unnecessary versus ATAGS and designed to help another competitor. If a civilian had stated the same, well.

Equipping the Indian Army – Artillery Modernisation
https://www.spslandforces.com/story/?id ... ernisation

But it is naïve to expect that the international arms cartels will sit silent and let Bharat go on its own steam. For inexplicable reasons, the Indian Army has issued a fresh Request for Information (RFI) to acquire a 155mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System (TGS) that has opened up a new avenue for induction of an Israeli gun. The gun in question is the Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) built by Israeli firm Elbit which has been vying for mega defence contracts with the Indian Army for the past two decades. The RFI sent out in December 2022 states helpfully that the weight of the gun system “be preferably less than 15 tonnes.” Given that the ATHOS weighs less than 15 tonnes while the indigenously produced ATAGS weigh well over 18 tonnes, industry sources see the new RFI as an opening tailored for the Israeli weapon system.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/ANI/status/1760990734176395596?s=20 ---> Pune, Maharashtra: Visuals of Mounted Gun System developed by DRDO.

VIDEO: https://x.com/ajitkdubey/status/1760981 ... 56637?s=20 ---> Saw two types of Made in India mounted gun systems in Pune Defexpo today. One is DRDO MGS which is an ATAGS mounted on a truck and the BF Mounted Arty Gun which is 39 calibre. Future looks good for Indian systems*.
*Does the Indian Army want it?

VIDEO: https://x.com/ANI/status/1760990849188471132?s=20 ---> DRDO Scientist Shailesh Gavaskar says, " This Mounted Gun System is an indigenously developed Artillery Gun System...main advantage of this gun is it is highly mobile, it can cross any ditch. It can go in step climbing gradient. The second advantage is that it has got shoot and scoot capability. That is it can be rapidly deployed in a matter of 80 seconds...Several critical technologies have been developed with this mounted gun system. That is it has got the highest range. Other technologies include, blast-proof cabin is there which is first time developed..."

[Manish_P]

...
Future looks good for Indian systems*.
*Does the Indian Army want it?
...

Exports, hopefully, Admiral sir.

[Ankit Desai]

Not sure about credibility

https://twitter.com/VivekSi85847001/sta ... 0191604736

First Order for 307 DRDO devloped ATAGS Howitzer for Indian Army is set to be placed before March 2024 said officials

After it Order for 400 Towed Gun System for Indian Army under 15 Ton all of Weight will be discussed in next FY.

ATAGS is Out, Dhanush & Bharat-52 is going to be 2 Contender.

-Ankit

[srai]

The way IA going about its artillery it will have a zoo … hundred here, 300 there and so on

[AkshaySG]

We should shadow buy some Israeli or Swedish firm and have them repackage ATAGS, Arjun etc to sell to Indian Army

Some goras to wine, dine and lobby the Chandigarh crowd and the orders will start flowing in

[VinodTK]

Watch: DRDO Showcases Indigenously Developed Mounted Gun System At MSME Defence Expo 2024

Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) showcased its indigenously developed 155 mm/52 calibre mounted gun system (MGS) in Pune. According to the DRDO, the MGS is a truck-mounted artillery gun system, deployable in desert, mountainous, and high-altitude terrains. The MGS equips a 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) on an eight-wheeled high-mobility vehicle (HMV). The state-of-the-art systems like blast resistant cabin, leg type electro-mechanical stabilizers, automatic ammunition handling system, etc. The DRDO said that the MGS is equipped with “shoot-and-scoot capability”. The system is fitted with an auto gun alignment and positioning system, fire-control system (FCS), and ammunition handling system. The system can fire up to a maximum distance of 45 km and has a maximum speed of 80 km/h.

[Prem Kumar]

Better to look for export customers: Armenia, UAE, Saudis, Philippines, Indonesia & African countries

Once its certified as export quality gun, sir, IA will order a token dozen of them to add to their zoo

Meanwhile, our jawans will be ordered to rush headlong towards machine gun & enemy artillery fire

[Rakesh]

X-Post from the India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector thread...

From unmanned naval systems to artillery guns, here are Adani Group’s focus areas in defence sector
https://theprint.in/defence/from-unmann ... r/1981997/
28 Feb 2024

Rajvanshi chipped in and said that the Adani Group is also focussed on artillery guns and helicopters. Adani Defence and Aerospace will respond to a request for proposal (RFP) issued by the Army for the Mounted Gun System and will also compete for the Towed Gun System program.

Towed Gun - ATHOS
Mounted Gun - ATMOS

Both are coming via Adani courtesy of Atmanirbhar Bharat

[Rakesh]

Must read twitter thread, as Adithya Krishna Menon highlights the hypocrisy on artillery acquisitions.

https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1762849 ... 25932?s=20 ---> Commendable that @sneheshphilip asked this question regarding concerns shared by many of us "nerds" & Adani Defence responded @ashrajvansh, great to see this. Very informative interview. I'll try to explain what are the views of many in the community are & explain our stance: 1/7

[Pratyush]

If it does indeed come to pass. Then it's an example of whose corruption?

The Indian army or the Indian government?

[Rakesh]

Every one is complicit in this drama. No one is a saint here.

On one hand you have the Army Chief talking about how the country's security is sacrosanct ---> viewtopic.php?p=2614223#p2614223 and then you have the same Army doing these kinds of tamasha;

1) viewtopic.php?p=2613956#p2613956

2) viewtopic.php?p=2613814#p2613814

The Govt is equally complicit, but via ignorance. And the Army relies on that ignorance to push for imports.

The latest game is get an Indian company to partner with the foreign OEM, do screwdrivergiri of that particular platform and then label it as Atmanirbhar Bharat. How is this any different from Pakistan who puts green paint on everything and calls it local?

We have two neighbours that hate our very existence and then we got the services playing games like this.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1765 ... 80420?s=20 --> Direct Fire

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1765 ... 65750?s=20 ---> Ordnance Factory Ambajhari and Reliance Ammunition Limited have been selected as the DcPP by ARDE for the Development of family of 155mm HE Bourrelet Projectiles. These projectiles will enhance firing capabilities of ATAGS.

[Manish_P]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1765 ... 80420?s=20 --> Direct Fire
...

Oh just great! Howitzers doing direct fire like Tanks... now lets ask for Tanks which do indirect fire like howitzers

[pravula]

Didn’t we use direct fire mode in Kargil extensively? What’s wrong about that?

[Manish_P]

I know. For that matter AAA guns can and also have been used in direct fire mode. (Failed) sarcasm. Pls ignore

[Pratyush]

https://armyrecognition.com/defense_new ... ystem.html

China Unveils SH16 155mm First Tracked Howitzer with Fully Autonomous Artillery Gun System


POSTED ON THURSDAY, 14 MARCH 2024 14:49

The year is 2035, the PLA has 1000+ of these systems. The DRDO in collaboration with the Indian industry and the South Koreans has developed a 62 calibre 30 liter chamber 155. That out shoots everything else on the global market. With hundreds on order by South Koreans, NATO and others.

But the Indian army is still fixated on the procurement of Athos and has screwed up every other army procurement option.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/elitepredatorss/status/17 ... 04227?s=20 ---> K9 Vajra has more space than some of the flats in Mumbai.

[ramana]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1765 ... 80420?s=20 --> Direct Fire

Post Galwan direct fire requirement for PLA bunkers was formed. Now we see the demo.

[VinodTK]

Post Galwan direct fire requirement for PLA bunkers was formed. Now we see the demo.

Ramana Jee long time no see, glad to see you back

[Pratyush]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1765 ... 80420?s=20 --> Direct Fire

Post Galwan direct fire requirement for PLA bunkers was formed. Now we see the demo.

That's presupposing that PLA infantry doesn't have ATGM.

[Tanaji]

It actually ignores the presence of hundreds of suicide drones that will definitely be present. China is a world leader in drone innovation and has a massive industrial capability to produce them. Any engagement will have presence of massive swarms that will autonomously target.

The IA planners are twiddling its thumbs instead of investing in drone counters or getting them developed. Probably there are vested interests in making emergency purchases later rather than now.

[Pratyush]

https://bharatshakti.in/unlikelihood-of ... ond-155mm/

Unlikelihood Of Calibre Of Artillery Guns Going Beyond 155mm

Maj Gen Nitin Prabhakar Gadkari (Retd)

Published on 16th March 2024.

[sanman]

India Test Fires Ramjet Powered Artillery Shell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr5egI7GYZc

So India has yet to test a 155mm version. Why not try to go even heavier? Why not even try to turn them into longer-range glide bombs? I hear the Russians have been having great success with glide-bombs in Ukraine, manufacturing them in large numbers.

[Pratyush]

^^^
From the reporting, the 155 was tested but it failed. The designers have gone back to the drawing board for revisions.

[Prem Kumar]

Great to see progress and for the Ramjet artillery to come to the testing stage

Now, its a question of "when" and not "if"

Eventually, I am confident that they will do it for all calibers of artillery!