SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a significant step toward modernizing its artillery capabilities, the Indian Army has released a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of 155mm Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) for its howitzers with 39, 45, and 52 calibre configurations, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative. The RFI, aimed at equipping Medium Regiments with advanced munitions, seeks to ensure a First Round Hit Probability (FRHP) during swift and intense operations, thereby enhancing the efficacy of Field Artillery Gun Systems in dynamic battlefield scenarios.
The proposed 155mm family of precision munitions is designed to operate across diverse terrains—plains, mountains, high-altitude areas, semi-deserts, and deserts—and must be compatible with all in-service 155mm 39/45/52 calibre gun systems, including the Dhanush, K9 Vajra-T, M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer, and Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).
The Indian Army’s push for precision-guided munitions reflects the evolving nature of warfare, where accuracy, lethality, and rapid response are critical to counter threats from adversaries like China and Pakistan. The RFI emphasizes the need for munitions that can deliver pinpoint strikes, minimizing collateral damage and maximizing operational impact. This requirement is particularly crucial along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, where high-altitude engagements demand precise targeting, and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, where swift neutralization of enemy assets is vital. By integrating PGMs, the Army aims to transform its artillery into a decisive force capable of dominating multi-domain battlefields.
The RFI specifies three categories of precision munitions, each tailored to specific operational needs:
- Terminally Guided Munition (TGM): A unitary projectile with a sub-decameter Circular Error Probable (CEP), ensuring extreme accuracy (within 10 meters of the target). TGMs can be fired at any angle of elevation, making them versatile for engaging fortified positions, command posts, or infrastructure in varied terrains. These munitions likely incorporate advanced guidance systems, such as GPS/INS or laser homing, to achieve pinpoint accuracy.
- Sensor Fused Munition (SFM): A unitary projectile or system with a CEP of 50 meters or less, designed to counter armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) or moving convoys of soft-skinned vehicles. SFMs must deploy at least two sub-munitions capable of autonomously seeking and destroying enemy targets using sensors like infrared or millimeter-wave radar. This capability is critical for neutralizing China’s armored formations in Ladakh or Pakistan’s mechanized units along the LoC.
- Course Correction System (CCS): A fuse system with a CEP of 50 meters or less, compatible with all in-service 155mm high-explosive (HE) ammunition. The CCS, which can be fired at any angle of elevation, enhances the accuracy of existing HE rounds by incorporating guidance technologies, such as GPS or inertial corrections, offering a cost-effective solution to upgrade the Army’s vast ammunition stockpile.
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