Indian Army News & Discussions

[PanzerKiel]

ATAGS allegedly suffered a Barrel Blast last week,DRDO begins probe into accident


The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has begun a thorough investigation into an accident involving an indigenously-developed howitzer gun system in Pokhran in Rajasthan last week, officials said on Thursday.

The accident took place when the howitzer was undergoing firing, they said. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is being developed by the DRDO along with two private-sector defence majors.


“Scientists are probing in detailed into the incident,” DRDO Chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy told PTI.

The indigenously-developed ATAGS are being billed as one of the best among the ones in its range globally. During its last trials, it had fired at a distance of around 47 km.

The Army requires a sizeable number of ATAGS for deployment along the frontiers with China and Pakistan.

In 2017, the Army received the first batch of two ultra-light howitzers from the US after a 30-year wait for new artillery guns since the induction of Bofors guns in the mid-1980s.

The M-777 A-2 ultra-light howitzers (ULH) have a maximum range of 30 km and manufactured by the BAE Systems.

The Indian Army is in dire need of ULH and India had struck a government-to-government deal with the US in November 2016 for supply of the 145 howitzers at a cost of nearly Rs 5,000 crore.

ATAGS allegedly suffered a Barrel Blast last week,DRDO begins probe into accident – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

ATAGS Howitzer Trials comes to a Halt, Guns send back from Pokhran


The trial of final phase of Howitzer guns that was going on at Pokhran field firing range has been stopped by DRDO after the barrel of one of the guns exploded last week. The companies left with their guns on Saturday. DRDO has formed a board to investigate the explosion of barrel and a high-level inquiry has been ordered.

The trial was going on for last 10 days in the presence of DRDO and army experts. The design of this 155mm 52-caliber gun was made by Armament Research & Development Establishment, Pune and manufactured by Tata Power and Bharat Forge. The barrel of a gun during the firing at the trial blasted in which 3-4 experts suffered minor injuries.

In 2017 also barrel of a gun of the same company exploded during trials. That time the reason was problem in ammunition. This gun has power to fire at a distance of 47km and can fire 6 rounds in 30 seconds.

ATAGS Howitzer Trials comes to a Halt, Guns send back from Pokhran – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

 

[ejaz007]

India's DRDO successfully test-fires indigenous laser-guided anti-tank missile
by Samuel Cranny-Evans



India’s government-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired a locally developed laser-guided anti-tank missile from an Arjun main battle tank (MBT) on 22 September.

The weapon, which was fired from the Arjun’s 120 mm rifled gun at one of the firing ranges belonging to the Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACCS) in Ahmednagar, western India, destroyed its intended target located at a distance of 3 km after locking onto it with its laser designator, the Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a 23 September statement.

An Arjun MBT is seen here test-firing a locally developed laser-guided anti-tank missile at a firing range in Ahmednagar, western India. (DRDO)
The PIB stated that the newly developed missile, which is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials, is armed with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead that can penetrate armoured vehicles, including those fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA).

It also noted that the missile has been developed for use with multiple Indian Army (IA) platforms, but provided no further details as to whether these platforms would be other tanks capable of firing the weapon from their main guns, or whether the platforms will be equipped with specifically designed launchers.

India's DRDO successfully test-fires indigenous laser-guided anti-tank missile

India’s government-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired a locally developed laser-guided anti-tank missile from an Arjun main...

www.janes.com

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Recent statement by HAL is very revealing. ZERO Aircraft on ground (ALH Fleet) out of 15 in Ladakh!
The per hour flying cost for the Dhruv is over ₹ 7L!
This is where the LUH will be key.(Also explains why the Cheetals are still in production)

It is also the VIP heptr for the Army

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

The Army also got a shot in the arm with the Rudra:

M621Cannon on a Nexter turret and Belgian rockets and HeliNa missiles.

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

So another order for the Sig-716i(72K+) rifles coming up.
According to some journos, this is the third order so far.
The first order was completed a while back(72K+) and took just about a year from contract inking!
Second one was an emergency procurement of the same numbers a few months back and now a DAC approval!
Much needed Infantry modernization rolling ahead at a formidable pace.
The troops on the LC are already equipped with these modern firearms:

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

One of the most delayed orders of all time. Indian Army set to receive DRDO Shivalik MMGs from a private firm!
10Lakh pieces ordered!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1311641554612744192

https://twitter.com/x/status/1108712830633734145

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Change of guard at the Fire and Fury Corps

 

[Yasser76]

So another order for the Sig-716i(72K+) rifles coming up.
According to some journos, this is the third order so far.
The first order was completed a while back(72K+) and took just about a year from contract inking!
Second one was an emergency procurement of the same numbers a few months back and now a DAC approval!
Much needed Infantry modernization rolling ahead at a formidable pace.
The troops on the LC are already equipped with these modern firearms:

Just a reality check here, this is 140k rifles that were not even assembled in India. India has 2 million troops (military, para-military and reserves). Assuming that they will not literally order 2 million rifles made in US factories, this is modernising just a fraction of your infantry.

 

[HostileInsurgent]

Just a reality check here, this is 140k rifles that were not even assembled in India. India has 2 million troops (military, para-military and reserves). Assuming that they will not literally order 2 million rifles made in US factories, this is modernising just a fraction of your infantry.

Why will we equip all with 7.62x51mm rifles? We are co-producing AK-203 Assault rifle (7.62x39) and Co-producing Caracal Car-816 Carbine (5.56x45 NATO). our own private company has developed Assault Rifles and Carbines for additional requirement.

SiG-716 with Made in India holographic sight by BEL.

AK-203

Car-816 Carbine

Assault rifles and other small arms made by India’s private company SSS Defence

 

[Yasser76]

3 different foreign rifles plus INSAS? Indian Army is competing with IAF for diversity of equipment. Any soldier will tell you a standard rifle has immense benefits....

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

this is modernising just a fraction of your infantry.

The numbers are relative. 1.45 Lakh rifles is huge.

 

[Yasser76]

The numbers are relative. 1.45 Lakh rifles is huge.

That is a contradictory statement, if numbers are relative 1.45 Lakh is tiny. You maybe missing the point I am trying to make and apologies, that may be my fault.

Essentially in an army, as we all know, soldiers are trained and equipped with the rifle type for most, if not all, of their army careers. They learn how to maintain it, they learn how to zero it, they learn how to disassemble and reassemble it to the point it is second nature and they can do it in the dark, the weight of it becomes part of their body weight. The infantrymen becomes an expert.
Defence forces try and make sure that all their arms standardise, not just for economies of scale, but when the sh*t hits the fan, any soldier can pick up any rifle and fight well.

India is now in the strange position of having three or four types. Yes, in an emergency a soldier who has been using a INSAS can pick up a Sig and quickly learn how to use it, will he be as effective as someone who has trained and fought with a Sig for years? No. Will he be able to sort out a jam under fire quickly with the Sig? No.

You see my point now?

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

It is a start, 1.45 Lakh will equip fighting formations of two whole commands (that are bigger than most armies)
Out of 1.3M not all are frontline fighting units.

 

[Yasser76]

It is a start, 1.45 Lakh will equip fighting formations of two whole commands (that are bigger than most armies)
Out of 1.3M not all are frontline fighting units.

You missed the point, but never mind. Even cooks and technicians have to fight sometimes, and they may nit be able to choose where, when or even with what weapon now.

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Mahindra Defence ALSV with the Indian Army in the DRC:

Hopefully we see them a lot more in CI/CT areas replacing older Gypsies.
Thanks to @Unknowncommando