The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts with Bharat Forge Ltd and Tata Advanced System Ltd for the procurement of 307 advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS) of 155mm/52 calibre and 327 high mobility vehicle 6×6 Gun towing vehicles respectively at a total cost of about ₹6,900 crore.
With this deal, total contracts worth ₹1.40 lakh crore have been signed by the MoD for capital procurement till date in the current financial year 2024-25.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh felicitated the Project Director of ATAGS from DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune, who played a pivotal role in the realisation of the project, said the Ministry of Defence.
Bharat Forge will manufacture 184 guns at its Jeguri facility near Pune to realise 60 per cent of the contract while the rest 128 would be done by the TASL, said sources. The same percentage will be applicable for manufacture of vehicles by the two leading private defence companies.
As per the contract, the ATAGs will have to be delivered in five years to the Indian Army to replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns and enhance the artillery capabilities.
The procurement of this gun system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the artillery regiments, enhancing operational readiness, said the Ministry.
The ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army’s firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes.
Being the first major procurement of towed guns from the private sector by the Indian Army, the project will provide a boost to the gun manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing eco-system as a whole, the MoD stated.
The project will significantly contribute to employment generation and economic growth in consonance with the Make-in-India initiative.
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