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News18
3 days ago
- News18
Indian Army's ATAGS To Get Range Over 80 Km: All About DRDO's Smart Ammunition Plan For Guns
The DRDO is developing indigenous ammunition to improve precision and extend the gun's range. Currently, ATAGS can strike targets up to 48 km away The Indian Army is set to enhance its firepower with the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), which will soon achieve an extended range exceeding 80 km. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing indigenous ammunition to improve precision and extend the gun's range. Currently, ATAGS can strike targets up to 48 km away. The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) wing of the DRDO is working on a variety of munitions. These include smart ammunition designed for stability, precision, and extended range. Current developments include bourrelet ammunition, with precision-guided munitions featuring advanced guidance systems, primarily utilising NavIC satellite guidance and ramjet-powered shells, expected to follow. 'Currently, we are developing the bourrelet series. User trials will be completed in the next one to one-and-a-half years. We are also developing guided shells, including GPS- and laser-guided variants. These shells will be available within four to five years and will enhance range and accuracy. Additionally, we are working on a ramjet-class shell with guidance, which will provide a range of over 80 kilometers and will be among the most advanced shells in the world," said RP Pandey, Project Director for the ATAGS project at ARDE. While the bourrelet series will slightly improve the precision and performance of ATAGS ammunition, subsequent developments are focused on making the platform more accurate and lethal with an extended range. A prototype of GPS-guided ammunition, primarily utilising NavIC satellite guidance with a GPS backup option, is expected by 2027. The ramjet-propelled shells are designed primarily to extend range. They will be compatible with ATAGS as well as other 155 mm artillery systems, such as the Haubits FH77, Dhanush, and K9 Vajra-T. These shells will include a Precision Guidance Kit for trajectory correction and feature their own propulsion to boost speed and range after firing. 'The ramjet-class shell is expected to be ready in the next five years. Very few countries are working on this category of artillery, but rest assured, when it arrives, it will be a game-changer," RP Pandey added. In March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts for the procurement of 307 ATAGS 155mm/52 calibre guns and 327 high-mobility 6×6 gun-towing vehicles at a cost of approximately ₹6,900 crore. The ATAGS and towing vehicles will be procured from Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, respectively. The first regiment of ATAGS, comprising 18 guns, is expected to be delivered by March 2027. ATAGS is designed to fire a variety of 155mm ammunition types to achieve its long-range, precision, and lethality objectives. view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 17:07 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Army's first regiment of long-range ATAGS artillery guns to be ready by February 2027
PUNE/AHMEDNAGAR: The Indian Army's plan to induct long-range indigenous artillery systems are in advanced stages, with the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) ready for its first product model test, while the Mounted Gun System (MGS) technology demonstrator is awaiting trial. 'The first gun system is ready for the mandatory first of product model test. The first regiment of 18 ATAGS will be inducted within a year thereafter,' said RP Pandey, Project Director (PD) of ATAGS, speaking to The New Indian Express. The gun has a proven range of over 45 kilometres and can be deployed in 85 seconds, Pandey said at the DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. He added that the gun can be deployed in 90 seconds and has been tested up to a range of 48 kilometres. Its wider arc of fire enables more destructive capabilities. The procurement of this system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Army's artillery regiments and is expected to enhance operational readiness. In March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts for the procurement of 307 ATAGS 155mm/52 calibre guns and 327 high-mobility 6x6 gun towing vehicles, at a cost of around ₹6,900 crore. The ATAGS and towing vehicles will be procured from Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, respectively. The ATAGS will replace older, smaller calibre guns and enhance the Indian Army's artillery capabilities. The ministry 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.'
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Varanasi DC directs officials to expedite works of multi-modal terminal, freight village projects
Varanasi: Division Commissioner S Rajalingam on Monday issued strict directives for the timely completion of the ambitious multi-modal terminal and freight village projects. While inspecting the multi-modal terminal site at Ramnagar, the commissioner reviewed the proposed sewage treatment plant (STP). A joint team of the irrigation department, UP Jal Nigam, Namami Gange, and the Inland Waterways Authority of India is conducting a survey for the STP and multimedia modal jetty. The commissioner provided guidelines for the STP and inspected the vessels including MV Bengal Ganga, SL Jahnavi, the hydrogen ship (H-2 boat), and the municipal corporation boat anchored there. After taking stock of the land acquired for the freight village and multi-modal purposes to be developed by the NHLML company into a state-of-the-art Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) spanning 100 acres on the Varanasi and Chandauli border, the commissioner sought details of the work. The officials informed him that NH-7 and NH-2, located 650 meters from the project site, will be connected by road. Additionally, a 5.1 km railway line will be laid from Jeevanathpur Junction to the village, linking the New Delhi-Howrah rail freight corridor and the freight village. This will establish a freight corridor from northeast India to south India. The freight village will also be connected to the Ralhupur Multi-Modal Terminal, facilitating seamless cargo transportation to Haldia via National Waterway-1. In the future, this project will provide significant investment and employment opportunities. IWAI's Varanasi in-charge RP Pandey, along with other officials and staff, were present during the inspection. Earlier, the commissioner reviewed the progress in the ongoing development projects in Chandauli district. He asked for the prompt disposal of old revenue disputes. In view of the heatwave, he said the administration should take all precautionary measures. He directed the officials to work collectively and with team spirit and said that providing better services to the public should be their prime responsibility.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Man sentenced to one year for molesting minor girl
Nagpur: A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment for molesting a three-year-old girl. The verdict was delivered by district and sessions Judge RP Pandey, who also serves as the special judge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident occurred on December 14, 2014, between 6 pm and 6.30 pm, at the residence of the victim in the Pratap Nagar police station jurisdiction. The minor girl, daughter of the complainant, was alone at home when the convict, Akshay Mendhe, who was a tenant in the same house, allegedly behaved obscenely and made lewd gestures toward her. Following a complaint lodged by the child's mother, an offence was registered at Pratap Nagar police station under relevant sections of the non-bailable POCSO Act . The accused was arrested on the same day. After a prolonged trial, the court found Mendhe guilty and sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹3,000. In case of default in payment, he will have to serve an additional month of imprisonment. Separately, for the offence of criminal intimidation, he was awarded another one-year sentence and a fine of ₹3,000, with the same default clause of one extra month of imprisonment. The prosecution was conducted by Additional Public Prosecutor Sonali Raut, while Advocate Baba Kalode appeared for the defence. The court proceedings were coordinated by criminal court advocates Gautam Dhoke and Digambar Bhoyar.
