The first batch of 18 indigenously upgraded ‘Sharang’ artillery guns will be inducted into the Army by March 31 this year, Programme Coordinator (Sharang) Brigadier Jayant Kar said on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

155mm "Sharang" howitzer displayed at DefExpo India 2018 near Chennai (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Brigadier Jayant Kar said that the gun, upgraded from 130mm to 155mm with a striking range extended from 27 to 39 kilometres, had successfully gone through integrated firing check on different elevations ranging from 0 to 45 degrees on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Long Proof Range of Ordnance Factory Khamaria, 16 kilometers from Jabalpur district headquarters. The up-gradation work was carried out by the GCF with the help of the state-owned ordnance factories, and teams from the Army and DRDO.

Brigadier Jayant Kar said the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) has been tasked to assemble 12 Sharang gun systems. These guns will also be equipped with night vision sensors which will allow the armed forces to target the enemy at night.

The 155 mm Sharang gun is an upgraded version of a Soviet-era 130 mm/52 calibre M-46 field gun.