Indian artillery modernisation

The Regiment of Artillery is presently engaged in modernising in terms of equipment and support systems under the ‘Make in India’ initiative

THE INDIAN ARMY'S REGIMENT of Artillery will celebrate its 196th Gunners Day on September 28, 2022. The date September 28 has a special significance since 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery was raised on September 28, 1827 and this battery has been in uninterrupted service since it was raised. The Raising Day of this battery, therefore, is celebrated as Gunners Day every year. The Regiment of Artillery is the second largest arm of the Indian Army after the Infantry and constitutes almost one sixth of the Army's strength, with its guns, mortars, rocket launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance systems, missiles and artillery firepower.

Historical Perspective

On January 15, 1935, a Field Brigade was formed to take the place of an outgoing British Field Brigade. It consisted of four batteries. In the following year, an Indian Artillery Training Battery was added to the establishment of the Field Artillery Training Centre at Mathura. In March 1938, a decision to enhance the number of Indian Artillery units was taken and Indian officers were inducted into the 1 Indian Mountain Artillery Brigade, followed by the replacement of a second British Field Brigade by an Indian Field Brigade. Thereafter, replacement of a British Heavy Battery (Coast Artillery) and one British Anti-aircraft Battery by an Indian Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery were undertaken, followed by the replacement of a second British Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery by an Indian Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery. Branches other than the field artillery were also introduced.