The Indian Army is preparing to conduct extensive trials of a new indigenously developed Mounted Gun System (MGS), a 155mm/52 calibre truck-mounted howitzer designed for rapid deployment and high mobility in modern combat scenarios.
The MGS, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar, is based on the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), which is already being ordered to update the Army’s artillery regiments.
The system can switch from moving to shooting mode in 80 seconds and back again in 85 seconds, allowing it to fire and move swiftly to avoid enemy counter-battery fire.
It can fire six rounds per minute and attack targets at ranges of more than 45 kilometers with exceptional accuracy and consistency.
The MGS is mounted on an 8×8 high-mobility vehicle and is equipped with shock-absorbing stabilisers, a blast-resistant armoured cabin, onboard silent electric power, and an integrated electronic control system. This structure enables rapid deployment and matches the mobility of mechanised forces, making it appropriate for a variety of terrains, including deserts and high-altitude locations.
The MGS contains up to 85% indigenous components, indicating India’s desire for self-sufficiency in defense manufacture.
An auto cannon alignment and positioning system, automated ammo handling, and a contemporary fire control system all contribute to a lower crew workload and faster operations.
The MGS has successfully completed internal trials in Balasore and Pokhran, firing over 100 rounds and demonstrating dependability and performance.
The Army has asked VRDE to make the system accessible for extensive trials in various terrains and weather conditions, outside of the existing competitive bidding process for 300 mounted gun systems. Bharat Forge Limited, Tata Advanced Systems, Adani Defence (with an Israeli partner), and Advanced Weapons Equipment India Ltd. are vying for this contract.
The DRDO has passed the MGS technology to Bharat Forge Limited for manufacture, and the Army expects to need 700-800 such guns to improve artillery mobility and firepower.
The MGS is part of a larger artillery modernization effort that includes systems such as Dhanush, ATAGS, K9 Vajra, and towed gun systems. The Army’s policy, informed by lessons from recent conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, places a premium on artillery units’ mobility, fast deployment, precision, and survivability.
The new MGS, with its shoot-and-scoot capability, is projected to greatly increase the Army’s capacity to launch quick, devastating strikes while avoiding enemy retaliation, particularly in disputed locations.
The MGS trials are a significant step forward in the Army’s ambitions to develop sophisticated, indigenous artillery weapons capable of operating effectively across India’s diverse geographical geography, reducing reliance on foreign imports and increasing domestic defense manufacture.
