Lt Gen. B.S. Pawar (retd)

The Indian Army’s second largest arm, the regiment of artillery, will be celebrating its 191^st Gunners Day on 28^th September this year. After nearly two decades of stagnation in its modernisation and transformation plans, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel and the prospects for the induction of approximately 2,800 plus modern artillery howitzers of the 155mm/52 calibre look bright.

The success of the indigenously developed 155mm 45 calibre Dhanush gun (upgraded version of the Bofors gun), the induction of the first six 155mm 39 calibre M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers (ULH) out of the 145 contracted for and the commencement of induction of first self-propelled (SP) tracked 155mm 52 calibre howitzers (K9 VAJRA-T) are certainly very positive developments in Indian Artillery’s overall transformation plan. What is more encouraging is that these state-of-the-art howitzers are being indigenously produced in India by our very own desi private companies in collaboration with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

In fact, the government’s thrust towards ‘Make in India’ and the big-time involvement of the private sector in defence manufacturing, especially artillery projects should give the required impetus to this process. The showcasing of the indigenously developed Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) during Republic Day parade last year is a befitting tribute to the above process.

Recent reports of the ATAGS achieving 40km plus range during firing in Pokhran Ranges and its winter trials in Sikkim this year are indeed encouraging signs. There has been a significant progress in the artillery’s surveillance, target acquisition and retaliatory capabilities and tremendous strides are being made in the field of rockets and missiles. However, the journey to achieve total transformation and modernisation by the artillery has just begun and the final goal is still a long way off. A major cause of concern and worry remains the sordid state of ammunition, the main weapon of the artillery, both in quantity and quality. This aspect was amply highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report released last year. The recent decision of the government to open this sector to the private industry is a step in the right direction but needs to be pursued on priority.

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Future Artillery

The artillery’s modernisation plans include purchase and manufacture of towed, mounted and ultra-light howitzers as well as self-propelled artillery both tracked and wheeled, multi-barrel rocket launchers, missiles, surveillance and counter bombardment equipment including UAVs and most important of all, the ammun