Despite the recent success of indigenously made 155mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery System (ATAGS), the process of acquiring some 1,580 pieces of Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) 2052 from Elbit Systems, Israel, is progressing and is now at the stage of cost negotiations. Elbit Systems has won a bid in a deal that could go up to Rs 9,000-10,000 crore. The DRDO is pushing to increase local production over import.
Cost negotiation is on get 400 pieces from Elbit of Israel in a ready-to-use condition and the remaining 1,180 will be assembled here in India by the foreign supplier in a partnership with Indian partner.
In case all 1,580 guns are acquired there is every possibility that the indigenous ATAGS and even the Dhanush 155mm/45 calibre projects are likely to be scuttled.
The Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP), drawn in 1999, is aimed at equipping 169 artillery regiments with 2,800-3,000 155 mm/52-calibre guns of all kinds and 155 mm/39-calibre lightweight howitzers by 2027. The projection includes 814 truck-mounted guns, 1,580 towed guns, 100 tracked self-propelled guns, 180 wheeled self-propelled guns and 145 ultra-light howitzers. One artillery regiment is usually equipped with 18 guns. Cost estimates are in the $8 to 10 billion bracket.
ATAGS was designed and developed by the DRDO in partnership with Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED. The ATAGS is undergoing user trials by the Army. The Defence Acquisition Council has okayed 150 ATAGS, but a contract is yet to be signed.
The Dhanush, a gun made by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), is already being inducted in phases. A total of 114 pieces are on order. The induction of ‘Sharang’ upgraded artillery pieces has commenced. A total of 300 of the 130 mm guns of Soviet origin are being up-gunned to 155 mm by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). The entire lot will be supplied by 2022. India has some 1,000 of the 130 mm M-46 artillery guns. Around 180 guns were upgraded by Israeli firm Soltam in 2008.
Elbit beat Nexter
Israeli Elbit has won the Indian Army’s 155 mm/52 calibre towed artillery gun competition, of which the import content alone is valued at over $ 1 billion. The declaration of Elbit as ‘L1’ has cleared the decks for price negotiations. The Elbit-Bharat Forge bid for the ATHOS 2052 howitzer was found significantly lower than that of French Nexter, which offered the Trajan gun jointly with its Indian partner Larsen & Toubro. These guns have a firing range of above 40 km.
The price offered for ATHOS was below that of the Dhanush 155mm/42 calibre artillery gun produced by the OFB. ATAGS will be hard pressed to match the price of Elbit’s ATHOS 2052, but with higher numbers it should be possible.
The French bid was defeated for the second time in an Indian artillery competition after Sofma lost out to Bofors in 1986. In 2018, the Indian Army started inducting the M777 ultra light howitzers and the K-9 Vajra tracked self-propelled guns. Both these guns are in the 155 mm, 52 calibre class, and the Indian Army’s first new artillery inductions since the infamous Bofors deal in 1986. The Dhanush, an upgrade of the Bofors FH-77B by the OFB, too has provided some cheer. The Army is buying 145 M777s, 100 K-9 Vajras, and has committed an order for 114 Dhanush guns after receiving the first six
