INDIA'S VERY OWN ATAGS SETS A WORLD RECORD AT POKHRAN

INDIA'S VERY OWN ATAGS SETS A WORLD RECORD AT POKHRAN India's advanced towed artillery gun system (ATAGS) being developed locally for the Indian Army performed successful long range shell firing tests. The 155-millimetre, 52-calibre gun-howitzer fired three shells out to a distance of 47.2 kilometres from the gun position. This was achieved using special, long-range ammunition called “high explosive – base bleed” (HE – BB). In comparison, 155-millimetre, 52-calibre guns in service worldwide fires this ammunition to maximum ranges of 40-45 kilometres. The ATAGS is being developed by the Defence Research & Defence Organisation (DRDO) on two parallel tracks – one prototype in partnership with Tata Power (Strategic Engineering Division) and another with Bharat Forge. The secret of the ATAGS longer range is its larger chamber – 25 litres, compared to 23 litres in most 155-millimetre guns like the French Nexter and Israeli Elbit guns the military has evaluated. A larger chamber packs in more high explosive propellant, which shoots out the warhead further. The need to cater for this higher “shock of firing” makes the ATAGS a heavier gun. It weighs in at 17-18 tonnes, while comparable guns worldwide weigh 14-15 tonnes. So promising is the ATAGS that both existing prototypes were paraded on January 26 in New Delhi.