India is adjusting its military tactics in response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a strategic move, the Indian Army has deployed advanced weaponry such as howitzers, missiles, rocket systems, and loiter munitions along the China frontier. It is part of a broader effort to bolster the country’s long-range, high-precision firepower capacity. The goal is to enhance India’s ability to navigate global supply chain disruptions by expanding its domestic ammunition vendor base. The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where artillery fire has accounted for 80% of the casualties, has been particularly influential. In light of this, the Army’s Director General of Artillery, Lt-General Adosh Kumar, has announced plans to induct 100 additional K-9 Vajra self-propelled tracked gun systems, as well as more Dhanush howitzers, Sharang guns, and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems.
Substantial progress has been achieved in the procurement plans for artillery systems. Some winterized K-9 Vajra regiments are already deployed in eastern Ladakh. Out of the 100 such guns inducted earlier for Rs 4,366 crore, amid the ongoing military confrontation with China, which is now in its fifth year. The contract worth around Rs 8,500 crore for 307 new Indigenous advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS), which have a range of up to 48 km, is also set to be finalized soon, as per the Director General of Artillery. Moreover, he added that trials will begin next year for the planned induction of 300 `shoot-and-scoot’ mounted gun systems and 400 `versatile’ to towed artillery gun systems.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is working on improving the range, accuracy, and lethality of the conventional Pralay ballistic missiles with 400 km range and Nirbhay cruise missiles with 1,000 km range. At the same time, DRDO is also developing hypersonic missiles, which will be distinct from the already inducted 450 km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, as explained by the DG of Artillery.
“With its accurate and destructive firepower, artillery today represents the true essence of military power in dominating the battlefield. We are modernising at a pace like never before. Our mantra is ‘modernisation through indigenisation’,” Lt-Gen Kumar said.
Six More Pinaka Regiments
The Indian Army is enhancing its long-range capabilities by adding six more Pinaka regiments to complement the existing four regiments because it has added “more punch and lethality” to the arsenal, stressed Lt Gen Kumar. The Indigenous Pinaka rocket systems are being upgraded to extend their strike range from 38 km to 75 km, with high-altitude trials already completed. This upgrade is expected to give the Army more firepower and effectiveness.
“The Pinaka is one of the best rocket systems in the world and is being exploited extensively. Our aim is to first double the range, and then quadruple it. We are looking at 120-km, 300-km ranges,” he said.
Ramping Up Indigenous Ammunition Production
In the field of loitering munitions, a ‘Make-II’ category project has received a “very good response” from private companies and start-ups. “Our aim is loitering munitions with 40-100-km range to engage targets in the operational depth of an adversary,” he said. There is also a strong focus on producing different kinds of ammunition locally and diversifying the vendor base.
“We were earlier dependent on only one production agency for 155mm artillery ammunition. Now, production of all types of 155mm ammunition has been thrown open to the public and private sector,” Lt-Gen Kumar said.
The Army will conduct trials of different types of ammunition by various public and private sector companies from October to November this year. The force is also looking to introduce futuristic ammunition, including “area denial munitions” and the 1.15 lakh “nub-less artillery projectiles” already approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) last year. “A number of projects have also been initiated to increase our capability in precision-guided and terminally guided ammunition,” Lt Gen Kumar said.
According to him, the Army is at various stages of inducting niche technology equipment such as loitering munitions, swarm drones, runway-independent remotely piloted aircraft, the latest weapon-locating radars, and battlefield surveillance radars.
Ravi Shankar
India is adjusting its military tactics in response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a strategic move, the Indian Army has deployed advanced weaponry such as howitzers, missiles, rocket systems, and loiter munitions along the China frontier. It is part of a broader effort to bolster the country’s long-range, high-precision firepower capacity. The goal is to enhance India’s ability to navigate global supply chain disruptions by expanding its domestic ammunition vendor base. The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where artillery fire has accounted for 80% of the casualties, has been particularly influential. In light of this, the Army’s Director General of Artillery, Lt-General Adosh Kumar, has announced plans to induct 100 additional K-9 Vajra self-propelled tracked gun systems, as well as more Dhanush howitzers, Sharang guns, and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems.
Substantial progress has been achieved in the procurement plans for artillery systems. Some winterized K-9 Vajra regiments are already deployed in eastern Ladakh. Out of the 100 such guns inducted earlier for Rs 4,366 crore, amid the ongoing military confrontation with China, which is now in its fifth year. The contract worth around Rs 8,500 crore for 307 new Indigenous advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS), which have a range of up to 48 km, is also set to be finalized soon, as per the Director General of Artillery. Moreover, he added that trials will begin next year for the planned induction of 300 `shoot-and-scoot’ mounted gun systems and 400 `versatile’ to towed artillery gun systems.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is working on improving the range, accuracy, and lethality of the conventional Pralay ballistic missiles with 400 km range and Nirbhay cruise missiles with 1,000 km range. At the same time, DRDO is also developing hypersonic missiles, which will be distinct from the already inducted 450 km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, as explained by the DG of Artillery.
“With its accurate and destructive firepower, artillery today represents the true essence of military power in dominating the battlefield. We are modernising at a pace like never before. Our mantra is ‘modernisation through indigenisation’,” Lt-Gen Kumar said.
Six More Pinaka Regiments
The Indian Army is enhancing its long-range capabilities by adding six more Pinaka regiments to complement the existing four regiments because it has added “more punch and lethality” to the arsenal, stressed Lt Gen Kumar. The Indigenous Pinaka rocket systems are being upgraded to extend their strike range from 38 km to 75 km, with high-altitude trials already completed. This upgrade is expected to give the Army more firepower and effectiveness.
“The Pinaka is one of the best rocket systems in the world and is being exploited extensively. Our aim is to first double the range, and then quadruple it. We are looking at 120-km, 300-km ranges,” he said.
Ramping Up Indigenous Ammunition Production
In the field of loitering munitions, a ‘Make-II’ category project has received a “very good response” from private companies and start-ups. “Our aim is loitering munitions with 40-100-km range to engage targets in the operational depth of an adversary,” he said. There is also a strong focus on producing different kinds of ammunition locally and diversifying the vendor base.
“We were earlier dependent on only one production agency for 155mm artillery ammunition. Now, production of all types of 155mm ammunition has been thrown open to the public and private sector,” Lt-Gen Kumar said.
The Army will conduct trials of different types of ammunition by various public and private sector companies from October to November this year. The force is also looking to introduce futuristic ammunition, including “area denial munitions” and the 1.15 lakh “nub-less artillery projectiles” already approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) last year. “A number of projects have also been initiated to increase our capability in precision-guided and terminally guided ammunition,” Lt Gen Kumar said.
According to him, the Army is at various stages of inducting niche technology equipment such as loitering munitions, swarm drones, runway-independent remotely piloted aircraft, the latest weapon-locating radars, and battlefield surveillance radars.
Ravi Shankar
