The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has prepared a modern cannon, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), to give a befitting reply to the enemy. Now preparations are being made for its testing. Made in collaboration with the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune, and in collaboration with private companies like Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, this cannon can fire 10 shells in 2.5 minutes. The special thing is that it can be deployed anywhere from the desert to the snowy peaks. Let's understand the specialty of this cannon in 10 points...
1. The ATAGS cannon is one of the best cannon systems in the world. It is a 155 mm / 52 caliber cannon. It was approved for DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in 2012.
2. The maximum strike range of ATAGS is 48 kilometers. It has a barrel with a capacity of 25 bombs and can fire in zone seven. Apart from this, it can hit the target accurately. It can be easily deployed in all weather and terrain.
3. It is compatible with the fire ammunition available to the army. Capability to integrate with the Indian Army's Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS). ACCCS aims to automate field artillery with secrecy in the areas of trajectory calculation and communication.
4. It has two major assemblies. Upper carriage and undercarriage. The upper carriage consists of the weapon assembly (gun barrel, breech, and muzzle brake), recoil system, cradle, saddle, elevating and traversing mechanism, layer station, loader station, and ammunition handling system. While the undercarriage consists of structural, automotive, and auxiliary systems.
5. It is coupled with electric drives. It can perform automatic operation of shell and charge loading, ramming, and gun deployment. This also increases the firing capability.
6. ATAGS is equipped with automatic propulsion capability. This capability connected to the Auxiliary Power Unit includes an automotive system, hydraulic transmission and actuation mechanism. This gives ATAGS the power for mobility, deployment and gun automation.
7. It can operate in both direct and indirect fire modes. It is fitted with multiple surveillance systems. In direct fire mode, the gun can hit targets up to 1.5 km away through optronic modes. It includes a day camera, thermal imaging and a laser range finder with a detection range of up to 2 km and a laser range finder with a detection range of up to 10 km.
8. The design and reliability of the recoil system was validated by carrying out continuous recoil and run out cycles of at least 100 cycles. The recoil system was tested on a specially designed static and hydraulic test bench, simulating the dynamic conditions under which the gun would eventually operate.
9. ATAGS can fire 10 rounds at a target in a very short time of 2.5 minutes. In burst fire mode, it can fire five rounds in 60 seconds. Depending on the type of ammunition, it can fire shells up to 48 kilometers.
10. The Indian Army has ordered 307 ATAGS guns in March 2025. This order has been divided between Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems in the ratio of 60:40. That is, 60% of the guns will be made by Bharat Forge and 40% by Tata Company. All these guns will be handed over to the army in a period of five years.
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