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SOURCE: AFI

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has announced that the Indian Army has already conducted over 300 trials of the innovative Mounted Gun System (MGS), tailored for the dynamic needs of modern warfare. The MGS, featuring a 155mm/52 caliber system, has been adapted from the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE)’s Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and mounted on an 8×8 high mobility vehicle for enhanced battlefield mobility.

General Dwivedi highlighted that the trials will continue through the year with plans to conclude by early 2026. “We have seen promising results from the trials conducted so far,” he stated, “but our commitment to ensuring the system’s readiness for combat necessitates further rigorous testing in diverse operational scenarios.”

The MGS has been meticulously designed to operate effectively in both desert and high-altitude environments, emphasizing the ‘shoot and scoot’ strategy. This capability allows the system to engage targets, then rapidly relocate to avoid counter-battery fire, thus enhancing the survivability of the crew and the system itself.

The system boasts a maximum firing range of 45 kilometers with exceptional accuracy and consistency in firing. This long reach combined with precision is poised to provide the Indian Army with a significant tactical advantage, allowing for the engagement of targets deep within enemy lines from a safe distance.

One of the key advantages of the MGS is its rapid deployment capability, which aligns perfectly with the mobility of mechanized forces. This ensures that the artillery can keep pace with fast-moving combat units, offering close support when and where it’s needed most. The ability to swiftly engage and then move out before the enemy can retaliate is crucial in modern, high-intensity warfare scenarios.

The upcoming trials will focus on further validating the MGS’s performance under various environmental conditions, including extreme cold, heat, and altitude, which are prevalent in India’s strategic areas of operation. These tests will also aim to refine the system’s logistics, maintenance, and integration with other military systems, ensuring seamless operation within the broader military framework.