India Clears $810M Deal for Indigenous ATAGS Howitzers

The Indian government has approved a ₹7,000 crore ($810 million) deal to acquire 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and 327 gun-towing vehicles for the Army.

Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 155mm/52-calibre ATAGS will be manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems. Bharat Forge, as the lowest bidder, will produce 60% of the guns, while Tata will handle the remaining 40%. The contract is expected to be signed next week, with deliveries aimed at equipping 15 artillery regiments.

The ATAGS, featuring a strike range of 45-48 km and an all-electric drive technology for maintenance-free operations, completed extensive trials between 2021 and 2022. The Army is also planning to acquire more advanced variants in the future to meet its total requirement of 1,580 guns. India has already secured export orders for the system, as officials highlight its accuracy, mobility, and ability to fire five-round bursts, unlike other contemporary howitzers that fire three-round bursts.

The approval comes amid the Army's push for enhanced long-range firepower, influenced by lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Recent defense acquisitions include 100 K-9 Vajra-T self-propelled guns for high-altitude deployment and extended-range rockets for the Pinaka multi-launch artillery system, both of which have also attracted export interest.

India’s artillery modernization has faced setbacks due to past scandals involving imported systems, such as the Bofors deal in the 1980s and subsequent controversies in the 2000s. The ATAGS deal signals a shift toward domestic manufacturing, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.