Indian DRDO completes ATAGS Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System live fire tests.

Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a fully made-in-India towed artillery gun system project undertaken in mission mode by DRDO as a part of the artillery modernization programme of the Indian Army, NDTV recalls. Trials of the ATAGS were successfully conducted at Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR) between April 26 and May 2, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said on May 2.
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Trials of the ATAGS were successfully conducted at Pokhran Field Firing Range between April 26 and May 2 (Picture source: Twitter account of ANI)

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) project was started in 2013 by DRDO to replace older guns in service in the Indian Army with a modern 155mm artillery gun. DRDO laboratory Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) partnered with private players Bharat Forge Limited, Mahindra Defence Naval System, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and public sector unit Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for this purpose. It was part of the Development cum Production Partner programme (DCPP) of DRDO.

The development of the gun took about 4 years and was expected to be complete by March 2017. The delay in the completion of the project was attributed to the realization of ordnance and recoil system and supply issues with the manufacturing of sub-systems. The gun was expected to start user trials in 2017 and production was expected to start in 2019, which didn't come true. It was first publicly showcased at 68th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2017.

The gun consists of a barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to fire 155 mm calibre ammunition with a firing range of 48 km. It has an all-electric drive to ensure reliability and minimum maintenance over a long period of time. It has advanced features like high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, an advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night capability in direct-fire mode. The gun is two tons lighter than guns in the same category and is designed to provide better accuracy and range and is capable of firing five successive rounds in a short duration. It is compatible with C3I systems like Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS) called Shakti for technical fire control, fire planning, deployment management, operational logistics management of the Indian Army

Trials

* DRDO conducted the proof firing of armament for the 155/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System on 14 July 2016. The test was successful.
* Fully integrated, 155-millimeter artillery gun fired its first rounds of live ammunition at the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) in Balasore, Odisha on 14 December 2016.
* During trials in 2017, ATAGS broke the then world record for 155 mm gun by firing the round to a distance of 47.2 kilometres. It again registered a maximum distance of 48.074 kilometres with high explosive–base bleed (HE–BB) ammunition, surpassing the maximum ranges fired by any artillery gun system in this category. This has since been surpassed by M777 and M1299 under US ERCA program
* The gun successfully completed trials and the manufacturing of first lot of 40 guns is to start soon.
* The gun underwent user trials in September 2020 and suffered a major setback with a barrel burst injuring four personnel. Investigations are on to ascertain and solve the problem and in November 2020, after an investigation, the gun was cleared for further trials
* In June 2021, ATAGS successfully completed trials at 15,000 feet (4,600 m) altitude.

Presentation of the ATAGS at DefExpo India 2018 in Chennai (Picture source: Army Recognition)