We can't afford that many. We are compensating with MGS instead.
Waste of money.
We can't afford that many. We are compensating with MGS instead.
Waste of money.
MGS,is that program still alive?
How it's a waste of money? The mobility in battlefield is depends on how fast u can replenish too.
MGS is alive. Requirement is almost 900.
K10s can be unreliable and cost as much as the SPH itself. Armies will end up cannibalizing them during war instead of actually using them. Manual loading with 3 men and a truck is much more reliable.
Arms purchase up, yet Army faces barrel crunch
NEW DELHI: At the time when the Indian Army is modernising its offensive capabilities, specifically in the Artillery and the Armoured Regiments, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit exercise has reported “shortfall of barrels and breech mechanisms ranging from 30-100 per cent of the production capacity” during 2015-22. A delay in the supply of ammunition has also been noticed.
The CAG audit also found that augmentation of production capacity of large calibre weapons in ordnance factories “could not be completed (January 2023)” even though an expenditure of Rs 292.32 crore (Rs 253.13 crore P&M + Rs 39.19 crore civil works)” was incurred.
The CAG has advised the Ministry of Defence and Defence public sector undertakings to “work out a revised time frame and put in place a strengthened monitoring mechanism to achieve project deliverables.”
The report for the period ended March 2021 was tabled in Parliament during the winter session. “Inordinate time was taken in execution of the civil works and procurement/ receipt/ commissioning of plant and machineries, especially the Electro Slag Refining (ESR) plant along with its linked machines at Field Gun Factory Kanpur (FGK) and five important machines at Metal & Steel Factory Ishapore (MSF),” it said.
The delays, including the “non-commissioning of the ESR plant at FGK and sub-optimal capacity of production of ESR slugs at MSF had a cascading effect on the entire supply line of components,” the report said.
Ordnance Factories were unable to supply even the truncated targets of two Guns — X58 and X60. “Slippages in supply of guns for the ‘B’ and ‘E’ tanks to Heavy Vehicle Factory at Avadi in Tamil Nadu were partly responsible for the shortfall in the issue of ‘B’ and ‘E’ tanks to the Army,” the report added.
Barrels are used for guns in the Artillery regiment and spare barrels are used for the T-72 and T-90 tanks of the Armoured regiment. Weapons are categorised as small arms, medium calibre and large calibre depending on the size of the barrel bore.
The audit done on production of propellants in ordnance factories found that there was delay in supply of ammunition as well. A propellant is an essential part of any ammunition, which determines its range.
The propellant factories are required to meet their targets by January of each year. However, they failed to do so, impacting production schedules of ammunition filling factories.
The CAG audit “observed delay in issue of propellants to the filling factories by January and March each year in 67 per cent and 43 per cent instances. Three ammunition and one rocket valuing Rs 1,053 crore could not be issued to the Armed Forces mainly due to short supply of propellants worth Rs 276 crore from the sister factories”.
More useful, easier to replace and survivable in mountains than both M777 and K9.
Ukraine got like 150 m777s and lost like 80 of them.
Indian Army Chief breaks down India's modernisation plan for Pinaka and ATAGS.
"If everything goes as planned, we hope to sign a contract for approximately 307 ATAGS, worth around ₹8,000 crore, before the end of this financial year."
"If everything goes as planned, we hope to sign a contract for approximately 307 ATAGS, worth around ₹8,000 crore, before the end of this financial year."
It's old news but Tata's ATAGS cousin called ALTGS will compete in TGS. Titanium has reduced its weight to 15T. It may not win due to price, but it's a good start. The 123 gun order could flesh out the production line for Tata as long as they get it.
DRDO-KSSL MGS climbing a gradient:
View attachment MGS_3.mp4
MGS direct fire trails:
View attachment MGS_4.mp4
View attachment MGS_3.mp4
MGS direct fire trails:
View attachment MGS_4.mp4
One downside of ATAGS MGS was the 8x8 truck. Hopefully, this is to fix that.
Comparable 155/52 systems, such as the PCL-181/SH-15 from Pakistan/China and the French CAESAR, use 6x6 trucks.
TOT eoi doc of the above
Does that mean they are just starting with the development of ALTGS?
It's pointless, but at least far more realistic. Tata's titanium version is ridiculous.
Hard to say, couple of ARDE tenders were last year for this kind of barrel refurb/improvement type of work. My guess is initially an indigenous version of the barrel, of which IPR would be for GOI.
What is 155 mm/52 calibre barrel DRDO is offering to private players as transfer of technology
DRDO is extending the technology to private industry, which has the capacity to mass produce the weapons systems required by armed forces.
New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has come out with an expression of interest document offering transfer of technology (ToT) for the 155 mm/52 calibre gun barrel to private players.The barrel has been developed by the DRDO for its mounted gun system (MGS) and is now being offered to the industry as ToT.
The barrel is smaller to the one developed for the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and hence lighter.
The ATAGS has a 155 mm/52 calibre gun barrel with a chamber volume of 25 litres as against the newer one with chamber volume of 23 litres.
“This makes the barrel lighter and can be used by an industry for developing any kind of gun system,” a source in the defence establishment said, explaining the significance.
Incidentally, the Army is looking at a lighter Towed Gun System (TGS) which will be the mainstay of the force in future. The gun is meant to be around 15 tonnes–much lighter than ATAGS but with similar firepower.
Sources said the new barrel was developed for the Mounted Gun System (MGS) that will begin Army trials this year along with other companies, including state-run Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and TATA.
The DRDO has tied up with private firm Kalyani Group for the MGS.
The DRDO, being a research and development (R&D) agency, extends the technology to private industry, which has the capacity to mass produce the weapons systems required by the armed forces. It is only after an understanding is reached between the two sides will they sign the licensing agreement for transfer of technology.
In the expression of interest, the DRDO stated that during the design and development of the weapons system (barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil system), the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) designed and developed a 155 mm/52 calibre barrel with 23-litres chamber capacity.
It added the gun is suitable for firing up to zone-6 charge and achieving corresponding range requirements, with an in-service 155 mm ammunition. This means the capacity of the chamber determines the firing range of the artillery gun system. The charge capacity of the gun depends on the rounds and ammunition that go into the barrel. The capacity of the chamber determines how much ammunition can go into it. The more the ammo, the longer the range to shoot. The 155mm/52 calibre, 23-litre chamber capacity barrel is well proven and exploited sufficiently to check its design ruggedness, the DRDO stated in its expression of interest letter.