Army to begin extensive trials of new indigenous mounted gun system soon

India Today

a day ago

The Indian Army will soon begin trials of the indigenously-built Mounted Gun System (MGS) by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The trials of the system will be carried out in different terrains and could be a game-changer during wars due to its shoot and scoot capability.It was developed by DRDO's Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in two and a half years.advertisementThe MGS is based on the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), already ordered by the defence ministry to boost the army's firepower. In March, the defence ministry signed two contracts worth Rs 6,900 crore with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited for 307 locally made ATAGS along with high-mobility towing vehicles.
The biggest advantage of this new gun is that it can be deployed in any situation and can also be carried quite easily.MGS has been designed and developed by adapting the 155 mm / 52 cal ATAGS armament system on an 8x8 high mobility vehicle and is capable of operating in desert and high-altitude areas with shoot and scoot capability.The weapon has a maximum firing range of 45 km with high accuracy and consistency. The advantage of MGS is that it can be rapidly deployed, matching the mobility of the mechanised forces, destroy enemy targets and move out before retaliatory fire occurs.The most important feature of the MGS is the shoot and scoot feature. This means that once the enemy is fired upon, the gun systems can be quickly removed from the location. In such a situation, the enemy will not be able to detect the exact position of the gun and hence, will not be able to fire accurately.Due to its adaptability, the gun can be deployed anywhere, be it in Siachen or in the mountainous regions of the north-eastern states. The system can be easily transported via railways or a C-17 transport aircraft.The gun system is completely indigenous. Starting from the 155-millimetre and the 52-calibre guns, the ammunition to the vehicle systems, 80 percent of the equipment used has been manufactured in the country. The gun can be launched in firing mode in just 85 seconds and can fire 6 rounds in a minute targeting an area of 50 square metres.The system can travel at speeds of 60 kilometres per hour in rough areas and 90 kilometres per hour in plains. Its total weight is about 30 tons. This includes the 15 tons of the vehicle and 15 tons of the gun. The vehicle has room for seven crew members. The cabin of the vehicle is completely bullet-proof, keeping the crew safe.- EndsTrending Reel