Indian MoD has signed a contract with BFL to procure 184 units of 155 mm/52 calibre ATAGS. (Janes/Guruprasad Gangaramaiah)
India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts with Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to deliver 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGSs) and 6×6 high-mobility gun-towing vehicles to the Indian Army.
An announcement made by the MoD on 26 March said that the total procurement is valued at INR69 billion (USD806 million).
“The procurement of this gun system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the artillery regiments, enhancing operational readiness,” the MoD said. “ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the army's firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes.”
A press release published by BFL on 27 March said that under the contract, 184 ATAGSs will be delivered by the company to the Indian Army, amounting to 60% of the total INR69 billion procurement.
A spokesperson from India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told Janes in February that the MoD will procure a total of 307 ATAGSs, which implies that the remaining 123 ATAGSs will be delivered by TASL. This accounts for the remaining 40% of the procurement amount.
The MoD did not provide any details about the 6×6 high-mobility gun-towing vehicle that will be procured as part of the contract.
BFL announced the beginning of negotiations for the ATAGS deal in November 2024 after the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement in March 2023.
The procurement stemmed from a request for information (RFI) issued by the Indian Army in December 2022, which outlined the service's requirement for the capability.
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