As part of its Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, the Indian Army is set to procure 400 of 155mm/52 calibre Towed Gun Systems (TGS). The guns will be procured under Buy (Indian-IDDM) from Indian vendors.
Defence Acquisition Council, under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, accorded approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in the previous meeting for these guns.
According to AoN the desired range of the gun is more than 40 km in all terrains and the minimum range in High Angle (in mountainous terrain and High-Altitude Areas) as 5 kms. The system should have a maximum weight of 15 tonnes. The maximum firing range of the system should be more than 40 km, and the gun must fire all in-service 155 mm ammunition.
The Ministry of Defence is actively seeking information from Indian vendors interested in receiving the Request for Proposal (RfP) by March 8, 2024. This step follows the Indian Army’s issuance of a request for information (RFI) in December 2022 regarding the acquisition of 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun Systems (TGS) to bolster defences along India’s northern and western borders.
The RFI specifies essential requirements for the TGS, including integration with a Global Positioning System (GPS), an inertial navigation-based sight system for precise location determination, and a fire-control system (FCS) capable of providing optical sight for day and night operations.
Initiated in the 1990s, the Indian Army’s ongoing Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan aims to enhance the service’s firepower. Under this plan, the Army intends to procure 1,580 155 mm/52 calibre TGS, 814 mounted gun systems, 100 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs), and 145 lightweight howitzers.
Recent efforts by the Indian Army to bolster its firepower include plans to procure 400 howitzers from Indian manufacturers for Rs 6500 Crore. This move underscores the commitment to supporting local industry and modernizing weaponry.
Who could be possible vendors?
Dhanush is already being used by the Indian Army and it weighs below the 15-ton limit mentioned in the AoN; Kalyani Bharat-52 — this gun according to information in the public domain weighs around 13 tons, making it a strong contender; Kalyani Ultra-Light Howitzer (ULH) is lighter in weight.
The focus is on acquiring 155 mm X 52 calibre Towed Gun Systems, designed to be lighter and more adaptable for operations in high-altitude regions such as mountainous terrain.
Furthermore, the Army is exploring the acquisition of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) to strengthen border defences. These ATAGS, having successfully completed testing phases, are nearing potential procurement.
According to sources within the defence establishment, the Towed Gun Systems (TGS) currently under consideration are expected to offer advancements surpassing those developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), signalling a significant leap forward in artillery capabilities.