On March 26, 2025, the Indian Ministry of Defence signed two major contracts worth a combined total of approximately 770 million euros (₹6,900 crore) with domestic companies Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Formalized at South Block in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, the agreements cover the procurement of 155mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and high-mobility 6×6 artillery towing vehicles. This milestone reflects a broader effort to modernize the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities and reinforces the government’s strategy to build greater self-reliance in the defence sector.
The ATAGS system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) through its Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune, is a long-range, towed artillery platform designed to meet the Indian Army’s need for precision, extended-range firepower. Bharat Forge, one of the private sector production partners selected for this system, will be responsible for its manufacturing and integration. The ATAGS has undergone a series of technical trials and validations over recent years and is now being inducted in significant numbers. It is designed to replace older artillery systems of lower calibre and range that are currently in service. With a 155mm calibre and 52-calibre barrel length, the system offers superior range, rate of fire, and mobility compared to legacy platforms.
The contract also includes support elements necessary for operational deployment, including advanced fire control systems, mobility enhancements, and crew protection features. The ATAGS is expected to become a core component of India’s future artillery doctrine, contributing to a shift toward modern, network-enabled and highly mobile artillery regiments capable of rapid deployment and sustained fire support in diverse terrain, from plains to high-altitude regions.