SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Army is set to take a significant step forward in its modernization efforts with the initiation of trials for the much-anticipated Mounted Gun System (MGS) next year. This has been confirmed by Lt. Gen. Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery in the Indian Army. The Mounted Gun System, a crucial component of India’s artillery upgrade plans, is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing the Army’s firepower and mobility, particularly in challenging terrains.
Last year, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave the green light for the procurement of the MGS. The approval marked a critical milestone in the modernization of the Army’s artillery regiments, aligning with the government’s “Make in India” initiative to indigenously develop advanced military hardware. The MGS will be based on the 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), a state-of-the-art gun system developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The DAC’s approval paved the way for a more agile and responsive artillery force, with a focus on leveraging indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities. The MGS program is expected to bridge a critical gap in the Army’s firepower, enabling rapid deployment of artillery assets in a variety of operational scenarios, particularly in high-mobility environments like deserts, plains, and semi-mountainous regions.
The 155 mm/52 calibre MGS is an offshoot of the ATAGS gun, which has already garnered attention for its advanced capabilities. The ATAGS has undergone extensive developmental trials and achieved significant milestones, including setting a world record for the longest-range firing in its category. The ATAGS is designed to deliver superior range, accuracy, and firepower compared to older artillery systems.
The MGS variant of the ATAGS completed its developmental trials earlier this year and successfully underwent 600 kilometers of internal trials, demonstrating its mobility, endurance, and integration with a vehicle-mounted platform. Unlike towed artillery guns, the MGS is mounted on a high-mobility vehicle, enabling it to quickly deploy, fire, and reposition. This capability is crucial in modern warfare, where mobility and rapid response can be decisive.
The Indian Army has ambitious plans for the MGS, with an intended procurement of 800 units of the 155 mm/52 calibre Mounted Gun System. This massive acquisition underscores the Army’s commitment to overhauling its artillery firepower, ensuring that it can effectively respond to contemporary threats along the country’s vast borders. The MGS, with its superior mobility and firepower, will be especially valuable in border regions requiring quick repositioning of artillery assets to respond to hostile threats.
The deployment of the MGS will complement the Army’s broader artillery modernization plan, which includes the induction of Dhanush, ATAGS, K9 Vajra, and Towed Gun Systems (TGS). Together, these platforms will form a well-rounded artillery fleet capable of addressing diverse operational needs, from high-altitude warfare in the Himalayas to rapid-strike operations in desert terrain.
The MGS project is another feather in the cap of India’s indigenous defense manufacturing industry. Developed in collaboration with private-sector companies such as Tata and L&T, the ATAGS and its mounted version showcase the growing maturity of India’s defense technology base. The system features advanced electronics, such as an automated gun alignment and positioning system, and has been designed to reduce the crew’s workload while increasing operational efficiency.