Makers And Wielders, Both Indian: Heavy Artillery Gun By DRDO-Tata Partnership To Soon Begin Users-Assisted Trials 

Indigenously developed heavy artillery gun, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), has reached an advanced stage of development (user-assisted trials), The Hindu has reported.

The trials are expected to be conducted in June 2019. The army has begun finalisation of the Preliminary Specifications Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) for these tests.

“Two guns are currently undergoing trials and another two guns will join the trials in a month. User-assisted trials will begin from May-June while the PSQR should be ready by July,” an official who wished to be anonymous told The Hindu.

The ATAGS is a 155 mm, 52 calibre gun developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The first prototype is being built in partnership with Tata Power (Strategic Engineering Division). Another is being built in collaboration with Bharat Forge. The government has sanctioned for production of 10 guns as part of the development process.

The army has raised some concerns about the weight of the gun according to the report. The current weight of ATAGS is 18 tonne while the ideal weight is around 15-16 tonnes. The gun is currently undergoing development trials near Pokhran firing ranges. The Defence Ministry has approved the in-principle purchase of 150 ATAGS at an approximate cost of Rs 3,365 crore.