Ahmednagar, July 8: The Indian Army is set to conduct trials of a locally developed mounted gun system (MGS) capable of firing and relocating within 85 seconds, a critical feature aimed at evading enemy counter-battery fire, officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said on Monday.
The 30-tonne truck-mounted system, developed by DRDO’s Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar, is based on the indigenous 155mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). The MGS is equipped to fire six rounds per minute with a strike range of over 45 kilometres.
The Army has requested VRDE to make the system available for extensive field trials across diverse terrains and weather conditions, said VRDE Director GRM Rao. He added that the MGS had already performed successfully during internal trials in Balasore and Pokhran, firing more than 100 rounds and meeting the Army’s qualitative requirements.
“The system brings mobility and agility to battlefield artillery, traits that have proved decisive in the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Rao said, referencing Ukraine’s use of French Caesar truck-mounted howitzers.
The DRDO has transferred production technology for the MGS to Bharat Forge Limited. The Army is expected to require 700 to 800 such high-mobility artillery systems in the coming years. Although a separate competitive procurement process for 300 MGS units is underway, the upcoming trials are being conducted outside that process, officials confirmed.
Competing firms for the MGS order include Bharat Forge, Tata Advanced Systems, Adani Defence & Aerospace (in collaboration with an Israeli firm), and defence public sector unit Advanced Weapons Equipment India Ltd.
The MGS, mounted on an 8×8 wheeled platform, includes a blast-resistant cabin, hydraulic shock-absorbing stabilisers, a silent electric power system, and integrated electronics for targeting and operations. The system reportedly has an indigenous content of up to 85%.
The MGS shares its core gun platform with the ATAGS, for which the Ministry of Defence signed two contracts in March 2025 worth ₹6,900 crore. Under the deal, Bharat Forge will produce 60% of the 307 guns ordered, while Tata Advanced Systems will supply the remaining 40%.
India has intensified efforts to enhance the firepower of its artillery regiments with a focus on mobility, precision, and survivability. In December 2024, the ministry awarded a ₹7,629 crore repeat order to Larsen & Toubro for 100 self-propelled K9 Vajra-T howitzers, based on South Korean technology.
All recent artillery acquisitions, barring the U.S.-made M777 ultra-light howitzers, are domestically manufactured under India’s push for defence self-reliance.
The Army’s broader strategy for artillery modernisation includes equipping regiments with advanced 155mm systems, deploying long-range missiles and rockets, enhancing surveillance and target acquisition units, and reducing sensor-to-shooter response time.
Military officials said the Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted the importance of agile and high-survivability artillery platforms. The MGS, with its rapid deployment and firepower, is seen as a key capability enabler in India’s evolving battlefield doctrine.
