SOURCE: PIB/API
The Indian Army was granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on March 16, 2023, presided over by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh for procurement of 307 ATAGS. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) has already passed most user trials and was developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with private players Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED.
The gun can be used in high-altitude areas along India’s border with Tibet, where the Army is engaged in a tense standoff with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
This is the first major order for an Indian-developed 155mm/52 Caliber Artillery Gun, which will be developed locally by both private players Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED, with the goal of producing nearly 1500 more such guns in the coming years.