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Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
'Destroyer on Wheels': India develops a truck-mounted Howitzer gun that can move at 90kmph and fire six rounds per minute
A new mounted artillery gun system has been developed to support Indian Army operations in areas where traditional towed guns cannot be deployed, according to Ramamohana Rao, Director of the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment ( VRDE ). The system integrates the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) onto an 8x8 high-mobility truck and is designed to offer quick deployment and withdrawal, a feature that has gained relevance in modern warfare scenarios. Quick deployment and 'shoot and scoot' capability Rao said the system can be deployed within 80 seconds and moved from the firing location in 85 seconds, helping it avoid enemy counter-battery fire. 'Shoot and scoot' is a tactical feature that was prominently seen during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Key technical features The mounted system weighs 30 tonnes and is capable of achieving speeds up to 90 km/h. It is equipped with a bulletproof cabin to protect the six-member crew from enemy fire and blast pressure. The 155mm, 52-calibre gun can fire six rounds per minute and has a maximum range of 45 kilometres, with a target impact area of up to 50 square metres. The gun has been built to meet the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) issued by the Indian Army in 2022. 'The gun that we have produced will cost around ₹15 crore, compared to foreign systems which cost between ₹35 and ₹40 crore,' said Rao. Bharat Forge is the manufacturing partner under the Development-cum-Production Partner ( DCPP ) model. Designed for difficult terrain The new artillery platform is capable of navigating slushy and rough terrains and can operate on gradients up to 20%. Rao said this makes it suitable for deployment along the northeastern, eastern, and western borders of India. It also has an elevation range of 70 degrees and a 30-degree azimuth, offering a wide range of targeting angles. Live Events Focus on indigenous production The first prototype of the system has 85% indigenous content. Rao said production versions are expected to increase this to 95%, aligning with India's push for domestic defence manufacturing. Army's projected need According to reports, the Indian Army has a projected requirement of 814 mounted gun systems to expand its artillery strength across diverse terrains. The newly developed system is expected to be a major option to meet that requirement.
India Gazette
7 days ago
- Automotive
- India Gazette
DRDO Mounted Gun System to boost Indian Army's firepower
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], July 7 (ANI): The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a new, powerful howitzer, the Indigenous 155mm/52 Calibre Mounted Gun System, which can quickly shoot and move. The DRDO lab, Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, has developed the MGS. The goal was to develop a fully indigenous system that could operate effectively in challenging terrain and engage enemy targets quickly and accurately. Speaking to ANI, Director VRDE G Ramamohana Rao said, 'This is a 155mm/52 calibre gun. Such guns already exist, but they are towed separately and take time to deploy. Our MGS is different. It is quick, just 80 seconds to deploy and 85 seconds to move. It is fully made in India and can also be exported to other countries' High mobility Artillery was a technology gap that needed to be addressed, for which the Mounted Gun System (MGS) was a viable solution. Accordingly, VRDE has taken up a Technology Demonstrator Project, 'Design and Development of 155mm/52 calibre Mounted Gun System (MGS) based on ATAGS'. The goal of this Technology Demonstrator (TD) project was to design & develop an indigenous Mounted Gun System. The gun system of ATAGS has been adapted to an 8X8 cross-country wheeled vehicle along with stabilisers and a necessary interface structure. State-of-the-art technologies in the area of carrier vehicles, stabilisers, Armoured Cabin, Ammunition handling cranes, on-board power sources and integrated compact electronic controllers have been developed in this project. Mounted Gun System (MGS) is a cross-country truck-mounted heavy artillery gun system (based on ATAGS 155mm/52Cal) with excellent shoot and scoot capability and the highest range of fire in this class. It has been indigenously developed by involving Indian Industries, DPSU, and Premier Academia, under the leadership of DRDO. MGS has high mobility in terms of gradient, side slope, trench crossing, and cross-country capability and can operate in both desert and mountainous terrain. Hence, the advantage of this system is that it can be rapidly deployed, matching the mobility of the mechanised forces, destroy the enemy targets and move out before retaliatory fire occurs. A total of 01 Nos. MGS has been realised through Indian Industries and has undergone proof testing and field trials. Technologies, design, process, and QAP have been finalised, and DcPP has been nominated for the Mounted Gun System. (ANI)
