Modernisation Of Indian Artillery Picks Up Pace

Editor’s Note

Indian Army’s  programme of modernization of Artillery, is back on the rails after a hiatus of over three decades when we witnessed the blacklisting of almost all the big players in the business of manufacturing guns, globally. However, a far better and dynamic picture is encountered today.

The variety of weapons and equipment that Gunners man is enormous and can barely be examined in a single article. This article will analyse the Indian Army’s tube Artillery only. Rocket Artillery and ammunition will be dealt with, subsequently.

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Josepf Stalin, the Russian strongman had said, ‘Artillery is the God of War’. In essence, he meant that cannons were the most decisive weapons of war. His ideas had their roots in the distilled learning and experience gathered across battlefields, over centuries.

Overview of Indian Artillery Post Independence

At the time of independence in 1947, the primary gun of the Indian Artillery, post the bifurcation of assets between India and Pakistan, was the 25 pounder field gun that ranged barely 12 km. There were a sprinkling of other calibers, however, these were barely enough to meet the requirements. The debacle of 1962 led to a reassessment of military capability requirements. The war with Pakistan in 1965 only reinforced the need to modernize our forces

130mm medium guns of Russian origin were inducted first in 1968. These guns have a maximum range of 27 km. The weapon system was the mainstay of Indian army’s Artillery firepower, and underwent upgradation, in due course. The Indian Artillery has about a 1000 of these guns in our inventory.

The Bangladesh operations in 1971, a roaring success for the Indian forces, nevertheless brought to the fore the gaping deficiency in our Artillery holdings. Our primary gun even then were mostly 25 pounders. The Armament Research and Development Establishment started the designing of 105 mm Indian Field Gun as a replacement for the  aging 25 Pounders. The first of the guns were ready by 1978. Later, a lighter variant, the 105mm Light Field Gun was also produced.

Induction of 155mm FH 77B Bofors Guns

Modernisation of the Indian Artillery was addressed was given a boost in the mid-eighties  by contracting the 155mm Field Howitzers manufactured by Bofors of Sweden. 400 such guns were imported. The rather high decibel allegations of graft that accompanied the deal led to a complete stop in imports of guns for almost three decades.

The Kargil Experience

The 1999 Kargil war was a prime example of Artillery’s decisive role in battle. Along with guns of other calibers, it was the 155mm Howitzers that really made it possible for Indians to push the Pakistanis back from the heights that they had occupied. However, it did not lead to Artillery induction going as per plans. In fact, gradually, every major gun manufacturer was blacklisted, leading to a huge retardation in Artillery modernization. Even the 155mm Bofors equipped units of the Indian Artillery could not be maintained at full strength.

In 2008 the Indian Army undertook the up-gunning of its 130mm guns with Soltam of Israel undertaking the task. Later, the Ordnance Factory Board took up the modifications. However, no Indian made guns were inducted.

Rejuvenation of Artillery Modernization

It’s only about 10 years now, that Artillery modernization has again picked up pace. In 2016, after decades, the army ordered the 155 mm M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers of BAE Systems. These guns are much lighter, weighing 4,200 kg. They can be transported underslung by helicopters, providing ideal flexibility in employment in high altitude regions. A total of 145 guns were procured. The equipment is tailor-made for our mountain divisions.

Modern Trends and Indian Requirements

We have already adopted 155mm as our standard caliber. This is quite in conformity with western block countries. 155mm caliber guns are capable of ranging further and delivering a shell with adequate destructive potential. Standardization of caliber also eases logistics, including import of ammunition when required in an operational scenario. Such a situation is being faced in Ukraine, today.

The current global trends in modernization are focused on longer ranges and precision delivery of a variety of ammunition. Both requirements pose challenges. Longer ranges often involve extending the length of the barrel with its resultant effect on platform weight. In turn, the mobility of the guns is also reduced.

Firing at longer ranges also requires positioning observation resources far forward for correction of fire and post -strike damage assessment. In effect, such observation in depth can only be provided by UAVs. Artillery units will perforce require dedicated UAV resources, with provisions for their manning and logistics support.

Precision munition, besides being costly, is also prone to jamming. Unguided bomb, or dumb bombs as they are often referred to, can be armed with specialized kits to transform these to guided bombs. The American Joint Direct Attack Munition is one such kit. The advantage of using precision ammunition has been empirically proven in multiple combat zones. At some stage, the Artillery will have to take a call on what percentage of their ammunition should be precision guided.

The varied terrain conditions in which the Indian Army has to defend its borders, also requires equipment suitable for such topographies.

The other trend that is quite discernible in our Artillery modernization is the philosophy of Atmanirbharta. In fact, the pursuit of self-sufficiency has guided acquisition of guns and ammunition for quite some time now leading to a  host of Indian manufacturers investing in the defence sector.

Major Procurements in Progress

Firepower for Battle in the Deserts. Like the mountain formations that did not have the right guns till the Ultra-Light Howitzers were procured, our desert formation didn’t have suitable guns, either. We had towed Artillery to follow in the wake of our planned armour spearheads headed fast and deep behind enemy lines. Mechanised warfare involves speed in movement and continuous Artillery support well ahead of the advancing columns. Obviously, self-propelled guns, with matching mobility are the best and most suitable answer.

L&T has already delivered the K9 VAJRA-T, an adaptation of the K9 Thunder, which is among the world’s most widely used 155 mm / 52 calibre guns. The gun has been manufactured in partnership with Hanwha Defence, Korea. 100 of these guns are already being used in Army formations. Another order is being processed with the company.

Multiple Models In 155 mm Category.  A couple of Indian private players have produced various models suited for employment in differing terrain configuration.  The various systems that are at different stages of the procurement process are given beneath:

• 155mm /45 Caliber Dhanush Gun System. Manufactured by the Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur, Dhanush Gun System is one of the first indigenous guns. This gun is an electronic upgrade of the Bofors Gun system. Approx 400 such guns are planned to be inducted out of which, currently 114 x guns have been contracted. Induction of this gun system is currently in progress.
• 155mm/45 Caliber Sharang Gun System. The upgradation of 130mm guns that was initiated in 2008 met with some impediments in-between. However, the process was reinitiated and the guns have been up-gunned as the Sharang gun system. These guns are now155mm guns but are manually operated and hence not modern guns. Post Soltam’s exit from the project, the guns were being up-gunned by OFB. Currently, post corporatization, Gun Carriage Factory (part of AWEIL – Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd), Grey Indian Foundry (part of YIL- Yantra India Limited) and Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (part of AVNL – Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd) are involved in up-gunning Sharang guns.
• 155mm/52 Caliber Advanced Towed Gun System. ATAGS have been designed by the ARDE (DRDO) with Bharat Forge Ltd and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) as the Development cum Production Partners. ATAGS have cleared the trials and the contract negotiations will commence shortly. Approx 300 such guns are planned for procurement.
• 155mm/ 52 Caliber Mounted Gun Systems (MGS). Self-Propelled Guns are also being procured for Indian Army in terms of the K9 Vajra and the MGS. The procurement of 155mm MGS is at the RFP stage, where the Artillery is looking towards approx. 300 such guns in the first phase. Based on the progress of induction and the technologies that are developed by the Indian Defence Industry, additional quantities will be procured.
• 155mm /52 Caliber Towed Gun System. Towed guns of 155mm/52 Caliber are also planned for procurement. These will be the mainstay of Artillery and will replace most of the guns of older vintage. RFP for these guns is yet to be issued.

India has a massive land border to defend. There are no better means available to either defend own forward defences, or assault enemy lines, his troop concentrations and logistics further in depth, than the Artillery. In today’s battlefield, the scale tips in favour of the side with heavier fire assault capabilities. A study of the Ukraine War provides the best evidence of such a manifestation. Even in Gaza with its urban topography, the Israelis have been able to creep forward only by using considerable Artillery to degrade and destroy Hamas strongholds before physically clearing the areas.

Brig SK Chatterji (Retd)