Artillery requirements of the Indian Army

K-9 Vajra, a self-propelled artillery gun, displayed at the formal induction of the major artillery gun systems during a ceremony at the Deolali artillery center, in Maharashtra's Nashik district. Photograph: PTI 

Perhaps the single most important aspect that makes a nation is when it can protect the integrity of its borders. The other aspects of corruption, employment, poverty etc. are also relevant but only when a nation exists. Clearly, the ability to defend and protect one's borders is nonnegotiable. Fortunately, even after a period of relative lull, national security is now increasingly taking center stage. Correspondingly, the focus is now on modernising the equipment, bringing in new technology and building capability. The narrative has moved from the ‘if’ to the ‘how’ and even ‘how soon’. This is good news!

What cannot be ignored is that while this has now come into effect, at least two neighbours have continued to disproportionately invest on defence preparedness all through the years- even when some would argue- much beyond their need itself. This aspect has further accentuated the urgency in which the situation needs to now be dealt with and reversed. While we have seen some big-ticket measures to strength and modernise the air power (even while quoting controversy), there is now need to ensure that there is a systematic, planned and integrated approach to defence equipment and weapons to build the necessary deterrents and dissuade from any  evil designs. 

In addition to the ministry of defence the role of the national security advisor (NSA), the cabinet committee on security (CCS) have a key role in developing a long term approach that can quickly plug the current gaps. The chiefs of staff of the three key wings of the armed forces must also play their role in this, perhaps through an integrated command. 

The role of the army- particularly the artillery will always continue to be key. Some of the immediate needs include the upgradation of the field guns like the 105 mm Indian Field Gun, the 122 mm Howitzer, the 130 mm Catapult self-propelled gun and 120 mm mortars, so that the depth to combat and isolate the battlefield by counter fire, by fire on hostile reserves, restrict movement and disrupt hostile command facilities and other installations can be achieved.

Artillery is expected to deliver accurate fire - when deployed with appropriate caliber and type of ammunition - and can be effective under all conditions of visibility, weather and terrain. In that sense, artillery can deliver shock and surprise in both conventional and asymmetric missions. 

For all the controversy that the Bofor’s gun purchase created, during the Kargil war, it was this equipment that became the hero of ‘Operation Vijay’.  It is spine chilling to imagine how that war would have turned without the Howitzer gun. From the Arjun MBT to the T-90, each has its own saga of heroics and legends that have gone down into battle folklore. 


An M777 Howitzer gun in action. Photograph: PTI 

The Missing Piece 

For the past 3 decades or so little or no equipment has been added to the Indian Defence - certainly not commensurate to the exposure and threat of the enemy or the size and enormity of our porous borders.  The stock of the Bofor’s gun has dwindled from the 400 imported to below 200.

The need of the hour is that we upgrade to equipment that is high on precision and achieves maximum range. Key to that is the power unit and the citing system. Also, keeping the gun light, and with the ability to shoot successively would be the delight of anyone dealing with gunnery. 

In the Artillery modernisation plan, the Indian army needs 814 Mounted Guns, 1580 Towed Guns, 100 tracked Self Propelled guns,180 wheeled Self Propelled guns and 145 Ultra Light Howitzers. In the twelfth army five-year plan 2012-17, which is in consonance with Artillery Profile 2027, the Indian army planned to upgrade its existing field regiments presently equipped with 105 mm Indian Field Gun, 105 mm Light Field Gun and the Russian 122 mm guns to the 155 mm towed gun. The Army’s Field Artillery Rationalization Plan, drawn in 1999, aims to acquire 2,800-3,000 155 mm/52-calibre guns of all kinds and 155 mm/39-calibre lightweight howitzers by 2027. The next batch of Dhanush will be in line with this target and its barrel for the next batch will be 52 calibers. These are imperative for India’s defence system. 

Artillery is a very significant part of any defence system as artillery operates as the protection required by the people who defend us and lends to the soldiers, a feeling of safety just as they provide to us. For them to be able to make us feel safe and be able to protect us, the first step is that they must be well equipped and feel safe and should be able to fight a battle themselves. It is akin to imparting the right education to a young mind which eventually will lead to a well-rounded individual but in the absence of the right education at the right time, there is no guarantee as to what skills the child may imbibe.

The unfortunate fact of the matter is that while we may have weapons and other warfare equipment to show on paper, their condition is not top notch and they are outdated. This does not help our cause and ends up leaving us in an uneasy, helpless position in case of an emergency attack or war that must take place. This leaves us and our country in a very vulnerable and dangerous situation.  


Article by Ananya Lal