# Advanced towed artillery gun system

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL).
Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems are the development and manufacturing partners for the project.

## Development

The 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, Mahindra Defence Naval System, Tata Power SED and public sector unit Advanced Weapons and Equipment India for this purpose.
With ARDE as the nodal laboratory, development is being assisted by Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), and Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL). It was part of the Development cum Production Partner programme (DCPP) of DRDO.
The development of the gun took about 4 years and is expected to be complete by March 2017. The delay in completion of the project was attributed to realization of ordnance and recoil system and supply issue with manufacturing of sub-systems. The gun is expected to start user trials in 2017 and production is expected to start in 2019.
It was first publicly showcased at 68th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2017. Both the prototypes of TASL and KSSL was part of the parade. For the first time, an indigenously developed howitzer gun, the ATAGS was included in the 21-gun salute alongside the British origin 25-pounder as part of the 76th Independence day celebrations. Two howitzer were included in the battery that fired the 21 gun salute. ATAGS is being fast-tracked by Indian Army for induction as of 27 September 2022.

### Production

Armenian Ground Forces ordered 6 ATAGS from Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL) by August 2023. The guns were manufactured in KSSL's facility in Pune. They were delivered to Armenia by the end of 2023. As of October 2024, they intend to purchase additional 84 units after successful trials at different locations.
As of March 2023, the Indian Ministry of Defence received a proposal worth over $1 Billion from the Indian Army for the purchase of 307 ATAGS. The order will be split at a ratio of 60:40 ratio. Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL) has emerged to be the lowest bidder followed by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL). However, TASL needs to meet the price bid of KSSL to get 40% order share. As reported on 19 November 2024, Bharat Forge, the parent company of KSSL, is participating in price negotiations with Ministry of Defence for the ATAGS contract. The deal, worth ₹8,500 crore (US$980 million), will be signed by 31 March 2025.

## Design

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 deployment, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night capability in direct-fire mode. The gun has a six round magazine instead of a standard three round magazine. 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 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.
The gun is towed by Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 truck and can change over from towing mode to firing mode within 2 minutes.

### Ammunition
#### Smart Artillery Shell
## Trials

The ATAGS has undergone several trials since 2016.
* On 14 July 2016, DRDO conducted the proof firing of armament for the 155/52 calibre advanced towed artillery gun system. The test was successful. The prototypes P1 and P2 of KSSL and TASL was tested in Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Balasore. The two prototypes were followed by P3 and P4 after clearance.
* On 14 December 2016, a fully integrated, 155-millimeter artillery gun fired its first rounds of live ammunition at the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) in Balasore, Odisha.
* From 24 August to 7 September 2017, ATAGS underwent summer/desert trials in Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR). During the trials, it broke the then world record for 155 mm/52 calibre 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.
* In March 2018, ATAGS successfully completed winter trials in Sikkim at an altitude of 11,000 feet (3,400 m) and a temperature of −20°C. The mobility of the gun was favourable at the high altitudes. The manufacturing of first lot of 40 guns was to start soon. At heights of more than 13,000 feet (4,000 m), ATAGS participated in extended firing exercises with only the backup battery.
* The gun underwent user trials in September 2020 in Pokhran and suffered a major setback with a barrel burst injuring four personnel. Investigations are on to ascertain and solve the problem During the 2020 trial, the KSSL variant ATAGS fired 130+ rounds successfully and TASL-variant ATAGS fired 99 rounds successfully. It was during the firing of the 100th round (5th round of burst firing) of the TASL gun in which the accident occurred. In November 2020, after an investigation the gun was cleared for further trials.
* In February 2021, ATAGS successfully completed another rounds of winter trials at high altitude conditions in Sikkim.
* The ATAGS successfully completed a week-long validation trials from 26 April to 2 May 2022 in Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR), paving way for induction into Army.
* During mid-2024, Armenia conducted several successful tests of the 6 units of ATAGS that have been delivered at various locations.

## ATAGS MGS

It is a truck-mounted self propelled artillery variant with ATAGS mounted on an 8×8 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) developed by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). The overall gun weighs 30 tonnes. The first and only prototype was revealed in DefExpo 2022.
The official technical features of the gun includes
* Has an all-up weight of 30 tonnes.
* Has a maximum range of 35 to 45 km depending on the ammunition.
* Features an elevation range of 0° to +72°.
* Each unit of MGS can carry 24 rounds of ammunition along with enough Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS).
* The system can be transitioned from drive mode to fire mode in 80 seconds and fire mode to drive mode in 85 seconds.
* It can operate in the temperature range of −4°C to +45°C.
* It has a chamber volume of 25 litres which can be later upgraded in need.
* Features an all-electric drive and also includes a manual override system.
* Includes auto gun alignment and positioning system, fire-control system (FCS), and ammunition handling system.
The MGS system has undergone mobility and performance trials along with standalone firing trials of the armoured cabin. Trials for the variant is expected to be concluded by 2026.

## Users
### Current users

* Armenia
** Armenian Ground Forces – 6 ordered and delivered in 2023. Another 84 units planned (deal worth US$155 million).

### Potential users

* India
** Indian Army – 307 planned.
* Philippines
** Philippine Army – Offered by India.