Army Guns for 400 Artillery Pieces

From Analog to Digital, Artillery Systems in the Army are being modernised for the New Age

- RANJIT KUMAR

Introduction

The Bofors Guns scandal in mid-eighties led to a very long three decades lull in Indian Army Artillery modernisation. However, since last few years, the Army seems to be sitting once again on the driver’s seat and giving a planned shape to its Field Artillery Rationalisation plan, which encompasses acquisition of all categories of artillery for widespread deployment on various geographic terrains bordering India-China and India-Pakistan region.

Under this plan the Indian Army will soon issue a tender for 400 155mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System (TGS) worth $750 million. During the last few years the Indian Army has seen sudden spurt in implementation of its artillery acquisition plan, which aimed to acquire almost 3,000 pieces of 155mm artillery guns by 2025. In spite of fast tracking of the process and successes in indigenisation, Indian Army seems to be far away from meeting this target.

Push Ahead with Indigenous Artillery Systems