India’s borders include deserts, plains, mountains, glaciers, and dense forests. To protect such a wide range of terrain, the Indian Army has been upgrading its artillery; guns, rockets, radars, and now even smart drones. The goal is simple: hit targets faster, more accurately, and from farther away, while keeping soldiers safer and relying more on Indian-made systems.
This guide explains the main upgrades in simple language. We’ll go system by system; towed guns, self-propelled guns, rockets, radars, digital networks, and new precision tools, so it’s easy to follow.
1) Big push for 155 mm guns: ATAGS, Dhanush, M777, and more
For years, the Army used many different kinds of guns in different calibers. Now the plan is to move mainly to 155 mm guns because they shoot farther, are more accurate with modern shells, and fit well with global standards. Here are the key programs.
ATAGS: India’s new long-range backbone (towed)
What it is: The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a 155 mm/52-calibre gun developed by DRDO with Indian industry partners (Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems). It’s designed for long range (over 40 km with standard ammo, more with special rounds), fast “burst” firing, and modern digital fire control.
What’s new: A first major step towards reality came in March 2025 when the Ministry of Defence signed contracts to purchase 307 ATAGS plus 327 6×6 gun-towing vehicles, sometime in the price range 6,900 crore. Its production is divided between Bharat Forge (60 percent) and Tata Advanced Systems (40 percent), according to official reliable sources.
Why it matters: ATAGS is indigenous, which means easier support and upgrades in India. It will gradually replace older 105 mm and 130 mm guns and become a key part of the Army’s future firepower.
Dhanush: An Indian 155 mm/45-calibre evolution (towed)
- What it is: Dhanush is a 155 mm/45-calibre towed howitzer manufactured in India (by AWEIL, earlier OFB).
- Status: The Army placed an order for 114 Dhanush guns and has been inducting them in batches. Despite early production challenges, deliveries have continued, and the first regiment is operational near the LAC. (Multiple mainstream sources track the order and induction.)
- Why it matters: Dhanush boosts range and accuracy compared to legacy guns, and supports the shift to 155 mm across the artillery arm.
M777: Ultra-light guns for the mountains (towed)
- What it is: The M777 155 mm Ultra-Light Howitzer (ULH) is made of titanium and is light enough to be slung under helicopters; very useful for mountains and fast deployment.
- Status: India’s government-to-government FMS deal covered 145 M777 howitzers. Deliveries and local assembly with Indian partners (for most of the guns) have been widely documented by official U.S./BAE releases and later summaries.
- Why it matters: In Ladakh or Arunachal, getting a gun to a remote ridge quickly can decide a battle. M777 helps do exactly that.
TGS & Mounted Guns: Faster moves, quicker setup
- Towed Gun System (TGS): The Army has a long-term plan to induct 1,200 155/52-calibre TGS in phases, with the first 400 cleared (Acceptance of Necessity in late 2023) and tendering activity through 2024–25. This broadens the 155 mm base and gives the Army more modern, long-range guns.
- Mounted Gun System (MGS), 155/52: Guns on trucks can “shoot and scoot” fast; ideal when the enemy uses counter-battery fire. Bharat Forge’s MGS (truck-mounted 155/52) has been progressing through trials in 2025, reflecting the Army’s long-stated requirement for hundreds of such systems.
- Light 105 mm mounted gun (paradroppable): The Ministry of Defence has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a 105 mm/37 calibre mounted gun system that’s light and even paradroppable; useful for airborne or high-altitude operations. This complements heavier 155 mm guns with a very mobile, quick-reaction option.
2) Heavy hitters on tracks and wheels: Self-Propelled artillery
K9 Vajra-T (tracked self-propelled howitzer)
- What it is: The K9 Vajra-T is a 155 mm/52-calibre tracked howitzer made in India by L&T (with technology from Hanwha, South Korea). It combines high mobility with heavy firepower and quick shoot-and-scoot capability.
- Status: After the original 100-gun contract was completed, India moved ahead with another large follow-on order (worth ₹7,628 crore, per NDTV) to expand the K9 fleet, matching Army needs after high-altitude “winterisation” and other upgrades.
- Why it matters: In plains and desert terrain, tracked self-propelled guns keep up with armoured units and survive better under enemy fire by moving and firing rapidly.
3) Area saturation and guided rockets: Pinaka gets bigger and smarter
Artillery is not just guns. India’s Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL) deliver heavy firepower across a wide area, and newer versions add range and precision.
- Six new Pinaka regiments: In 2020, the MoD signed contracts for six Pinaka regiments to be deployed along the Northern and Eastern borders; part of a large push to strengthen rocket artillery. (Official and mainstream briefings report this.)
- Upgrades: Enhanced-range rockets (Mk-I Enhanced) and Guided Pinaka (with navigation/ guidance) increase both reach and accuracy, turning the system from a pure “area saturation” weapon into one that can also do precision strikes with fewer rounds. (DRDO and press coverage describe these variants and their trials/inductions.)
Bottom line: Pinaka gives commanders a quick way to deliver large volumes of fire over tens of kilometres, and the guided versions help reduce collateral damage and ammo use.
4) Seeing the enemy first: Weapon Locating Radars and surveillance
To win an artillery duel, you need to find where enemy shells are coming from and hit those positions fast. India uses weapon locating radars (WLR) and other sensors for this job.
- Swathi WLR (BEL): India’s Swathi radar tracks incoming shells, rockets, and mortars to pinpoint enemy gun positions for counter-battery fire. It’s an indigenous BEL system, exported as well (for example, to Armenia), and used by the Army.
- Why it matters: With Swathi, you can respond quickly after a few enemy rounds, forcing the enemy to move or be destroyed.
Beyond radars, artillery also benefits from UAVs for spotting and post-strike battle damage assessment; from lightweight quadcopters to larger systems. These feed coordinates and images to gunners and commanders so decisions are quicker and more accurate.
(Procurements of drones and loitering munitions under emergency powers since 2024–25 reinforce this trend.)
5) Going digital: Project SHAKTI (ACCCS) and networked fire control
Modern artillery depends on fast, reliable data: where is the target, which guns are available, what ammo is best, what is the wind/muzzle velocity correction, and when to fire. The Indian Army has been digitising this with Project SHAKTI, its Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS).
- What it is: A command-and-control network that links observers, radars, meteorology sensors, guns, and HQs to speed up “sensor-to-shooter” time. BEL is a key industry partner.
- Why it matters: Instead of sending orders over voice or paper, SHAKTI lets units share target data digitally and coordinate many guns and rockets to hit at the same time (“time-on-target”). That means faster fire missions and better accuracy.
6) Precision tools: smart shells, guided kits, and loitering munitions
Artillery fire is getting smarter. India is moving towards precision-guided artillery and loitering munitions to hit important targets with fewer rounds.
- Loitering munitions (Nagastra): In 2024, the Army ordered 480 indigenous Nagastra-1 loitering munitions from Solar Industries’ EEL under emergency powers and received the first batches; by late 2024, the full lot was reported delivered. In 2025, Indian outlets reported a new order (~450 units) for the improved Nagastra-1R, adding night-ops capability and better gimbals. These systems can circle over a battlefield, find the target, and then dive to destroy it; very useful against enemy guns, command posts, or vehicles.
- Why it matters: Rather than firing numerous shells and correcting, a loitering munition is able to verify the target with a camera and attack accurately, minimizing collateral damage and wasting ammunition.
India has also explored precision guidance kits for 155 mm shells and has bought U.S. Excalibur rounds in past years for M777s during the Ladakh standoff period, showing the wider move to precision when needed.
7) What this modernization looks like on the ground
Put simply, the Indian Army is building a balanced artillery mix:
- Towed long-range guns (ATAGS, Dhanush, future TGS) for sustained, accurate fires from prepared positions.
- Ultra-light guns (M777) for mountain mobility and helicopter lift.
- Self-propelled guns (K9 Vajra-T) for high-tempo operations with armour in plains and deserts.
- Rocket artillery (Pinaka, incl. guided variants) for quick, heavy salvos and now increasingly precise strikes.
- Sensors & networks (Swathi WLR, SHAKTI ACCCS) to detect threats faster and respond with coordinated fire from multiple batteries.
- Precision enablers (loitering munitions like Nagastra-1/1R, precision shells) to hit high-value targets with fewer rounds.
This mix gives commanders options. In the mountains, sling an M777 with a helicopter to a ridge. In the desert, roll K9 Vajra-T with tanks and shoot on the move. For deep targets, launch Pinaka rockets. For a vital enemy radar or gun, send a loitering munition. Tie it all together with digital command-and-control so decisions and firing happen in minutes, not hours.
8) Why “Make in India” matters here
Artillery pieces are complex: barrels, recoil systems, fire control computers, vehicles, radars, and lots of ammunition. Relying too much on imports makes spares slow and expensive. That’s why the Army and MoD are pushing local industry.
- Indigenous programs and contracts: The ATAGS order to Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems (₹6,900 crore), and the K9 Vajra-T follow-on order with L&T, show that large, credible orders are flowing to Indian production lines.
- Local ecosystem: BEL builds Swathi radars and supports Project SHAKTI networking. DRDO develops gun and rocket technologies. Private firms build guns, trucks, and loitering munitions. This creates local jobs and ensures upgrades and maintenance are faster.
- Exports and scale: As Indian systems mature (for example, BEL’s export of Swathi and private-sector artillery exports), economies of scale can reduce costs and encourage further innovation.
9) What to watch next (near-term)
- ATAGS induction timeline: With contracts signed in March 2025, reports indicate the first full ATAGS regiment is planned to be ready around 2027, as production ramps up and units train.
- More mounted guns: Expect progress on 155/52 MGS trials and procurement (truck-mounted howitzers) because “shoot-and-scoot” mobility is essential against modern counter-battery fire.
- 105 mm mounted/paradroppable guns: Useful for rapid air-deployment and high altitude; keep an eye on RFPs and trials; the AoN has already been granted.
- Guided rockets & precision kits: More guided Pinaka and indigenous precision solutions are likely as the Army leans into accuracy and reduced logistics (fewer rounds to do the same job).
- Loitering munition ecosystem: The Nagastra-1R order shows rapid evolution; better sensors and night operations. Expect more variants and wider use across artillery and infantry units.
10) The big picture
Artillery wins battles by delivering accurate, timely fire. The Indian Army’s modernization plan is moving in that direction with:
- New Indian-made guns (ATAGS, Dhanush) and proven systems (M777, K9 Vajra-T).
- Rocket regiments with improved range and guidance (Pinaka).
- Sensors and networks (Swathi, SHAKTI) so units see and shoot faster.
- Precision tools (loitering munitions, guided rockets/shells) that reduce ammo use and collateral damage.
This combination, firepower + mobility + precision + networking- is what modern artillery is all about. And because so much of it is now made in India, the Army can scale up faster and keep systems ready during long deployments.
Conclusion
The Indian Army is making its artillery stronger, smarter, and faster. New guns like ATAGS and Dhanush give longer range, while the M777 helps in mountains, and the K9 Vajra-T supports tanks in deserts. Pinaka rockets cover large areas, and new guided rockets hit targets with more accuracy. Radars like Swathi and digital systems like SHAKTI make it easier to find the enemy and fire back quickly. Loitering drones add a modern touch, allowing very precise strikes.
By making more weapons in India, the Army can get parts and upgrades quickly, without waiting for imports. In short, these changes mean the Army will be ready to fight better in any terrain and protect the country more strongly
Article by Rachna