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Nothing but fast procurements.
Indian Army Artillery
- Thread starter Rage
- Start date
Hari Sud
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Tube artillery projects are underway in a big way in India.
Now start thinking about short range cruise missiles with reverse slope capabilities and with higher payload capabilities to break up enemy rear command & Control, supply depots, airports, roads& rail bridges etc. where Aircrafts cannot go. That adds greater teeth to the army.
Indian cruise missiles have failed three times, the short range missiles of the Prahaar & Agni type are too bulky to move around tactically. Hence needs of cruise missiles to inflict heavy damages to the enemy support infrastructure.
Now start thinking about short range cruise missiles with reverse slope capabilities and with higher payload capabilities to break up enemy rear command & Control, supply depots, airports, roads& rail bridges etc. where Aircrafts cannot go. That adds greater teeth to the army.
Indian cruise missiles have failed three times, the short range missiles of the Prahaar & Agni type are too bulky to move around tactically. Hence needs of cruise missiles to inflict heavy damages to the enemy support infrastructure.
PatriotNRI
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I just read about Pinaka MBR hitting 60 plus KM targets. Don't you think this will be a cheaper, more effective and wider area coverage system compared the missiles?
PatriotNRI
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Pinaka MBR may be more cost effective?
PatriotNRI
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TATA prototype in action ..
==========
==========
About Prototype made by Kalyani Co ..
Honesty, Most comfortable looking seats i ever seen in Indian Army ..
Except Tatra seats ..
How do these guns compare against the western and Chinese ( Pakistan) artillery?
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itsme
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On what basis if you don't mind me asking sir?
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60s Artillery system 122mm D30 at display ..
PatriotNRI
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Curiosity on my part.
Periodically blurb of news about laser, microwave and rail gun technology news trickles in. Does anyone have any objective information to enlighten us?
Periodically blurb of news about laser, microwave and rail gun technology news trickles in. Does anyone have any objective information to enlighten us?
IndianHawk
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Help him out professor @Indx TechStyle
Kunal, when was this photo taken? It's funny, for years so few photos of D-30s in IA service and now we're seeing a few.
60s Artillery system 122mm D30 at display ..
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I think Bharat Rakshak had a complete research paper over Railgun project.
Lost the paper due to data loss last year.
Yet, I have something to share.
Mumbai based Zeus Numerix has prepared for simulations for electromagnetic gun.
http://www.zeusnumerix.com//public/..._Design_of_Electromagnetic_Rail_Gun_PR074.pdf
ARDE's rail gun might in fact be a coil gun rail gun hybrid using bitter coil based transmission line along with rails.
http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/tenders/viewTender.jsp?paramMicro=9672
In media,
http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2016/05/indias-navy-wants-100-technologies-by.html?m=1
https://m.reddit.com/r/GlobalPowers/comments/3ayo3e/secret_project_18class_destroyer/
[Reddit is more fictional though].
So, Railgun is in early stages.
Official Conformation:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158187
For Lasers, I have entire thread.
http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/threads/indian-laser-and-directed-energy-weapon-dew-thread.76144/
So, Laser systems are in final stages.:biggrin2:
Welcome to the club!!! There seems to be some overly sensitive vigilantes prowling the site.
Few days back, I just quoted ADA chief that Tejas Mk1 does not conform to the Whitcomb Area rule (and hence not so aerodynamic), a deficiency that they intend to fix in Mk2 version. That rubbed the wrong side of an over-sensitive fanboy (who also for some reason had extraordinary powers), and he went on to delete my post and ban me from that thread for a week!! Interestingly, another 'veteran' member of this site confirmed my statement and reposted the exact same thing (before mine was deleted); but curiously his post still remains intact on the thread!!!
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By DefenceProAc
Indian Army’s Artillery Modernization Programme
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ARTILLERY ACQUISITION FOR INDIAN ARMY
155mm Towed Artillery Gun 2001: First RFP issued in December 2001.
2002:2007 (Trials): The trials were carried out in four phases over 4 years between May 2002 - 2007 resulting in inordinate delay with none of the guns could meet certain technical parameters of the GSQR.
2007: In Oct 2007, MoD withdrew the RFP and foreclosed the case for procurement of the gun.
2008: New RFP was issued in March 2008 based on revised GSQR.
2010: Army HQ in July 2010 retracted the RFP due to single vendor situation.
2011: Fresh RFP was issued on 28 January 2011 based on revised GSQR.
Self Propelled Guns (Wheeled) 2002: RFP was issued in January 2002.
2005: the procurement process was closed by Ministry in July 2005 due to ban on M/s Denel
2007: Another RFP was issued in February 2007.
2007: RFP was retracted due to single vendor situation,
2008: A fresh RFP was issued in February 2008
2010-2011: Trials of two vendors were completed.
2011: MoD cancels RFP in Sep 2011 after allegations surfaced about manipulations in the evaluation processes of the field-trials.
2012: RFI re-issued
Self Propelled Guns (Tracked)
1994: A global RFP is issued
1995 (July-Sep): Trials conducted.
1997: None of the guns were found to fulfill requisite parameters.
1998: GSQRs are amended.
1999: held from July September 1999
2002: In June 2002, RFP issued to M/s Denel and M/s BEML.
2005: Procurement comes to end as Denel getting blacklisted.
2007: New RFP is issued in May 2007 but subsequently retracted on 19 September
2007 owing to single vendor situation.
2008: MoD re-issues RFP in August 2008
2009: RFP is withdrawn as only one vendor responded.
2011: Fresh RFI is issued in mid-January.
155mm Mounted Gun System 2002: MoD issues RFP on February 18, 2002.
2013: Previously issued RFP withdrawn and a RFI is re-issued in June 2013.
155mm Ultra Light Howitzer
2008: MoD issues RFP in January 2008 ST Kinetics and BAE Systems responded.
2009: Contract was scrapped as MoD due to single vendor situation
May 2011: Government initiates procurement of BAE's M777 through FMS route.
2013: Procurement gets DAC approval. Contract yet to signed.
Even though the army in 1999 initiated an USD 8 Billion Artillery Modernization Program or Field Artillery Rationalization Plan (FARP) aimed at acquiring between 2700-3600 guns over the next 15 to 20 years (2020-25) but things have virtually remained stalled with there being no new inductions. Key acquisitions planned under the FARP include:
Market Opportunities: With thrust on “Make and Buy” & Make (Indian) Programmes, the foreign OEMs have already started revisiting their strategies to stay relevant to the Indian market by collaborating with the Indian companies. The onus now lies on the prime contractor (Indian companies) to have tie-ups with the foreign players to bring in the required technologies and create and run manufacturing lines/final assembly lines in the country. Table throws light on the programmes elaborately of 155mm Howitzers pertaining to the Indian Army's Artillery Modernization Programme:
Type Total Quantity Category Tentative Cost Likely Induction Likely Contenders/Vendors
155mm Towed Gun
Total: 1580
400 (Direct Purchase) + 1180 (to be built through ToT) Buy and Make $1.78 Bn
30% Offset
2016-17 French Nexter CEASAR
Swedish BAE-Bofors FH77-BW-L52 Archer
Israeli Soltam ATHOS 2052 led by Elbit Systems
155mm Tracked Gun 100 Buy-Make $750-778 Mn
2019-20 Larsen & Toubro (L&T) tied up with South Korean company Samsung Techwin, Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) has partnered with Slovakian company Konstrukha and Russia's Rosoboron export.
155mm Wheeled Self Propelled Gun Total: 400
180 (Direct Purchase) + 220 (to be built indigenously)
Buy-Make (Global)
$889 Mn Delivery within three years from the date of order. Konstrukta Defence Konštrukta; SpGHZuzana 2; Nexter CAESAR; Rheinmetall - RWG-52; BAE-Bofors FH77 BW L52 Arche; Samsung Techwin and Soltam
155mm Mounted Gun Total: 814
200 (Direct Purchase) + 614 (to be built indigenously)
Buy-Make (Indian)
$1.9 Bn 2018-19
Tata Power SED with DENEL Land Systems for customised version of the T-5-52 Mk2000 Condor, Mahindra Land Systems has teamed up with BAE for FH-77BW L52 Archer, and L&T has teamed up with Nexter for Ceaser gunerbia's Yugoimport SDPR teamed with Punj Lloyd for Nora-B52K1, Krauss Maffei-Wegmann teamed with Ashok Leyland for AGM (on a 6 x 6 truck)
155mm Ultra Light Howitzer 145 Buy (through FMS) $647 Mn
2015-16
BAE Systems
Indigenous Development of Artillery Guns
Having failed to make much headway with foreign procurements coupled with the size of the Army's artillery procurement has lately prompted the Indian industry both public and private firms to enter the gun manufacturing. The Indian industry is keen, to not only participate, but also contribute towards self reliance with the state-of-the-art equipment. The private sector has been gearing up by creating state-of-the-art defence and aerospace manufacturing facilities that too without any assured orders.
Dhanush: The development of 155mm 45 calibre howitzers, called the Dhanush, undertaken by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) utilizing the drawings/design and manufacturing technology earlier procured from Bofors. The project is expected to be worth Rs 1260 crores with the initial order for 114 guns already placed by the Army which could be enhanced further to 414 guns if the gun proves its mettle. As of now, the winter trials for the gun are on-going in Sikkim which is expected to finish by March, to be followed by summer trials in the desert in Pokharan in May/June 2014.
This 45 calibre gun has a range of 38 km compared to the 27-km range of the original Bofors gun and has an electronic sighting and laying system for aiming the gun at the target. The Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur is the integrator and is establishing production for 18 guns a year in 2015 and would be doubling that capacity in 2016.
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS): In addition to this, the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) along with the Army is also developing a fully indigenous 155mm/52 calibre towed gun. ARDE, the Pune based DRDO lab, is spearheading this project known as Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and as of now, the gun's specifications have already been firmed with its basic design being finalized. DRDO has also selected private firms - Bharat Forge, L&T and Tata Power (SED) will be playing a pivotal role in the development of ATAGS. The gun is likely to be developed as seven work packages, with each of these sub-systems being developed and manufactured by the Indian public and private entities. DRDO is hopeful to begin the in-house trials of the gun by 2016 and offer the gun to the army for user trials by early 2017. If everything goes well then Army would initially be placing an order of over 140 such howitzers after the successful completion of the trials. This gun will have a range of 60 km with a weight of just 12 tonnes, making it ideal for the narrow, twisting roads along which it would have to be transported along Indian's Himalayan frontiers.
Besides OFB and DRDO guns, two private entities - Tata Power SED and Bharat Forge have also successfully demonstrated capability in developing artillery guns on their own. Manufacturing of weapon systems have been the sole preserve of government sector which had the technological infrastructure but with the entry of these vendors has clearly implicated that the Indian private sector has the requisite technical and manufacturing skills and capable of taking on the challenge.
TATA's Mounted Gun System (MGS): Tata Power SED has developed a prototype 155mm 52 calibre truck-mounted gun howitzer called as the mounted gun system (MGS). Mounted on a 8X8 truck, the gun is 52 percent indigenous and has undergone dynamic firing followed by road trials. The weapon system has tactical and road strategic mobility and has a range of 600 km without refueling, travelling at speeds of up to 85 km/hr. It can fire all types of 155mm NATO standard rounds, standard HE ammunition, Extended Range (Base Bleed) ammunition and Rocket Assisted Ammunition to the desired range. The platform has on board ammunition, carrying capacity of 26 projectiles and 26 charges. The main weapon along with its sub-assemblies is planned to be manufactured in India on ToT.
The company plans to offer the gun for the Army's tender for 814 such truck-mounted guns worth over Rs 8,500 crore. The firm has already presented the Government with a detailed roadmap for the indigenous production of its mounted gun.
Bharat Forge's Bharat 5: As for Bharat Forge, it is developing/producing a towed version of a 155 mm howitzer, named as Bharat 52, to meet the demand of the Indian Army and has a deadline of 2015 for its completion. The company imported an entire gun, the GHN-45 to absorb technology; while simultaneously buying and importing an entire production line from RUAG of Switzerland. As of now, the gun is to undergo testing and the company has already put its request to MoD for testing facility. The system uses self-propelling capability and automatic laying, enabling rapid 'shoot and scoot' even with towed guns. The self propelling system can move the cannon at a speed of up to 30 km/h, and provide sufficient mobility for change of positions. The system weighs 14 tons and has a maximum firing range of 41 km, with 3-5 rounds per minute rate of fire.
However, considering the fact that the shortfalls in the artillery are alarmingly high and escalating as most of the guns are obsolete, these indigenous developments could provide much needed respite, even though it will take at least five years before the Army gets the indigenous guns.
There is no denying the fact that private sector companies have demonstrated greater and highly-effective resource planning and resource utilisation. Comprehensive project management coupled with better supply-chain management, results in avoiding time and cost over-runs. The public and private sectors should complement each other with spirit of creating healthy competition to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. In the past lack of indigenous capability has made the MoD to take on the import route for artillery procurements which however till date have not yielded any results. With upgrades and modernization for its artillery systems long overdue and the capability being shown by the public and private entities in developing indigenous howitzers, there definitely does not seem any further requirement of going the import way for the procurement of some variants of artillery guns to meet the requirements of the Army. Rather, on the other hand, the Government should provide the requisite funding and encouragement to private vendors to come up with the manufacturing and subsequently opening up for production line of guns. This in turn will not only save the long and expensive global tendering process and dependency on imports but also the country will be able to develop the much required strong DIB.
Indian Army’s Artillery Modernization Programme
The hiccups in the procurement process and cancellation of numerous tenders in past owing to issues of alleged irregularities, have severely affected the artillery inventory. In the backdrop author highlights some initiatives from Indian Industry.
Indian Army's artillery modernization programme has been a saga of numerous issued and cancelled tenders owing to issues of corruption and alleged malpractices associated with the procurement of artillery guns. As a result, till date Indian Army's artillery inventory continue to remain in woefully dismal state with the land force failing to induct any new artillery guns since the last major acquisition of 410 pieces of 39-calibre 155mm FH-77B howitzers from Sweden's AB Bofors in 1987. Presently, the Indian artillery is saddled with guns of various calibres, a mix of 105mm field guns and 130mm & 155mm howitzers (400+35) of different vintages in its inventory which are either obsolescent or reaching obsolescence.CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ARTILLERY ACQUISITION FOR INDIAN ARMY
155mm Towed Artillery Gun 2001: First RFP issued in December 2001.
2002:2007 (Trials): The trials were carried out in four phases over 4 years between May 2002 - 2007 resulting in inordinate delay with none of the guns could meet certain technical parameters of the GSQR.
2007: In Oct 2007, MoD withdrew the RFP and foreclosed the case for procurement of the gun.
2008: New RFP was issued in March 2008 based on revised GSQR.
2010: Army HQ in July 2010 retracted the RFP due to single vendor situation.
2011: Fresh RFP was issued on 28 January 2011 based on revised GSQR.
Self Propelled Guns (Wheeled) 2002: RFP was issued in January 2002.
2005: the procurement process was closed by Ministry in July 2005 due to ban on M/s Denel
2007: Another RFP was issued in February 2007.
2007: RFP was retracted due to single vendor situation,
2008: A fresh RFP was issued in February 2008
2010-2011: Trials of two vendors were completed.
2011: MoD cancels RFP in Sep 2011 after allegations surfaced about manipulations in the evaluation processes of the field-trials.
2012: RFI re-issued
Self Propelled Guns (Tracked)
1994: A global RFP is issued
1995 (July-Sep): Trials conducted.
1997: None of the guns were found to fulfill requisite parameters.
1998: GSQRs are amended.
1999: held from July September 1999
2002: In June 2002, RFP issued to M/s Denel and M/s BEML.
2005: Procurement comes to end as Denel getting blacklisted.
2007: New RFP is issued in May 2007 but subsequently retracted on 19 September
2007 owing to single vendor situation.
2008: MoD re-issues RFP in August 2008
2009: RFP is withdrawn as only one vendor responded.
2011: Fresh RFI is issued in mid-January.
155mm Mounted Gun System 2002: MoD issues RFP on February 18, 2002.
2013: Previously issued RFP withdrawn and a RFI is re-issued in June 2013.
155mm Ultra Light Howitzer
2008: MoD issues RFP in January 2008 ST Kinetics and BAE Systems responded.
2009: Contract was scrapped as MoD due to single vendor situation
May 2011: Government initiates procurement of BAE's M777 through FMS route.
2013: Procurement gets DAC approval. Contract yet to signed.
Even though the army in 1999 initiated an USD 8 Billion Artillery Modernization Program or Field Artillery Rationalization Plan (FARP) aimed at acquiring between 2700-3600 guns over the next 15 to 20 years (2020-25) but things have virtually remained stalled with there being no new inductions. Key acquisitions planned under the FARP include:
- 155mm/39-Calibre Ultra-Light Howitzers (ULH)
- 155mm/52-Calibre Wheeled
- 155mm/52-Calibre Towed Guns
- 155mm/52-Calibre Self-Propelled Tracked And Wheeled Guns
- 155mm/52-Calibre Mounted Gun System (MGS)
Market Opportunities: With thrust on “Make and Buy” & Make (Indian) Programmes, the foreign OEMs have already started revisiting their strategies to stay relevant to the Indian market by collaborating with the Indian companies. The onus now lies on the prime contractor (Indian companies) to have tie-ups with the foreign players to bring in the required technologies and create and run manufacturing lines/final assembly lines in the country. Table throws light on the programmes elaborately of 155mm Howitzers pertaining to the Indian Army's Artillery Modernization Programme:
Type Total Quantity Category Tentative Cost Likely Induction Likely Contenders/Vendors
155mm Towed Gun
Total: 1580
400 (Direct Purchase) + 1180 (to be built through ToT) Buy and Make $1.78 Bn
30% Offset
2016-17 French Nexter CEASAR
Swedish BAE-Bofors FH77-BW-L52 Archer
Israeli Soltam ATHOS 2052 led by Elbit Systems
155mm Tracked Gun 100 Buy-Make $750-778 Mn
2019-20 Larsen & Toubro (L&T) tied up with South Korean company Samsung Techwin, Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) has partnered with Slovakian company Konstrukha and Russia's Rosoboron export.
155mm Wheeled Self Propelled Gun Total: 400
180 (Direct Purchase) + 220 (to be built indigenously)
Buy-Make (Global)
$889 Mn Delivery within three years from the date of order. Konstrukta Defence Konštrukta; SpGHZuzana 2; Nexter CAESAR; Rheinmetall - RWG-52; BAE-Bofors FH77 BW L52 Arche; Samsung Techwin and Soltam
155mm Mounted Gun Total: 814
200 (Direct Purchase) + 614 (to be built indigenously)
Buy-Make (Indian)
$1.9 Bn 2018-19
Tata Power SED with DENEL Land Systems for customised version of the T-5-52 Mk2000 Condor, Mahindra Land Systems has teamed up with BAE for FH-77BW L52 Archer, and L&T has teamed up with Nexter for Ceaser gunerbia's Yugoimport SDPR teamed with Punj Lloyd for Nora-B52K1, Krauss Maffei-Wegmann teamed with Ashok Leyland for AGM (on a 6 x 6 truck)
155mm Ultra Light Howitzer 145 Buy (through FMS) $647 Mn
2015-16
BAE Systems
Indigenous Development of Artillery Guns
Having failed to make much headway with foreign procurements coupled with the size of the Army's artillery procurement has lately prompted the Indian industry both public and private firms to enter the gun manufacturing. The Indian industry is keen, to not only participate, but also contribute towards self reliance with the state-of-the-art equipment. The private sector has been gearing up by creating state-of-the-art defence and aerospace manufacturing facilities that too without any assured orders.
Dhanush: The development of 155mm 45 calibre howitzers, called the Dhanush, undertaken by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) utilizing the drawings/design and manufacturing technology earlier procured from Bofors. The project is expected to be worth Rs 1260 crores with the initial order for 114 guns already placed by the Army which could be enhanced further to 414 guns if the gun proves its mettle. As of now, the winter trials for the gun are on-going in Sikkim which is expected to finish by March, to be followed by summer trials in the desert in Pokharan in May/June 2014.
This 45 calibre gun has a range of 38 km compared to the 27-km range of the original Bofors gun and has an electronic sighting and laying system for aiming the gun at the target. The Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur is the integrator and is establishing production for 18 guns a year in 2015 and would be doubling that capacity in 2016.
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS): In addition to this, the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) along with the Army is also developing a fully indigenous 155mm/52 calibre towed gun. ARDE, the Pune based DRDO lab, is spearheading this project known as Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and as of now, the gun's specifications have already been firmed with its basic design being finalized. DRDO has also selected private firms - Bharat Forge, L&T and Tata Power (SED) will be playing a pivotal role in the development of ATAGS. The gun is likely to be developed as seven work packages, with each of these sub-systems being developed and manufactured by the Indian public and private entities. DRDO is hopeful to begin the in-house trials of the gun by 2016 and offer the gun to the army for user trials by early 2017. If everything goes well then Army would initially be placing an order of over 140 such howitzers after the successful completion of the trials. This gun will have a range of 60 km with a weight of just 12 tonnes, making it ideal for the narrow, twisting roads along which it would have to be transported along Indian's Himalayan frontiers.
Besides OFB and DRDO guns, two private entities - Tata Power SED and Bharat Forge have also successfully demonstrated capability in developing artillery guns on their own. Manufacturing of weapon systems have been the sole preserve of government sector which had the technological infrastructure but with the entry of these vendors has clearly implicated that the Indian private sector has the requisite technical and manufacturing skills and capable of taking on the challenge.
TATA's Mounted Gun System (MGS): Tata Power SED has developed a prototype 155mm 52 calibre truck-mounted gun howitzer called as the mounted gun system (MGS). Mounted on a 8X8 truck, the gun is 52 percent indigenous and has undergone dynamic firing followed by road trials. The weapon system has tactical and road strategic mobility and has a range of 600 km without refueling, travelling at speeds of up to 85 km/hr. It can fire all types of 155mm NATO standard rounds, standard HE ammunition, Extended Range (Base Bleed) ammunition and Rocket Assisted Ammunition to the desired range. The platform has on board ammunition, carrying capacity of 26 projectiles and 26 charges. The main weapon along with its sub-assemblies is planned to be manufactured in India on ToT.
The company plans to offer the gun for the Army's tender for 814 such truck-mounted guns worth over Rs 8,500 crore. The firm has already presented the Government with a detailed roadmap for the indigenous production of its mounted gun.
Bharat Forge's Bharat 5: As for Bharat Forge, it is developing/producing a towed version of a 155 mm howitzer, named as Bharat 52, to meet the demand of the Indian Army and has a deadline of 2015 for its completion. The company imported an entire gun, the GHN-45 to absorb technology; while simultaneously buying and importing an entire production line from RUAG of Switzerland. As of now, the gun is to undergo testing and the company has already put its request to MoD for testing facility. The system uses self-propelling capability and automatic laying, enabling rapid 'shoot and scoot' even with towed guns. The self propelling system can move the cannon at a speed of up to 30 km/h, and provide sufficient mobility for change of positions. The system weighs 14 tons and has a maximum firing range of 41 km, with 3-5 rounds per minute rate of fire.
However, considering the fact that the shortfalls in the artillery are alarmingly high and escalating as most of the guns are obsolete, these indigenous developments could provide much needed respite, even though it will take at least five years before the Army gets the indigenous guns.
There is no denying the fact that private sector companies have demonstrated greater and highly-effective resource planning and resource utilisation. Comprehensive project management coupled with better supply-chain management, results in avoiding time and cost over-runs. The public and private sectors should complement each other with spirit of creating healthy competition to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. In the past lack of indigenous capability has made the MoD to take on the import route for artillery procurements which however till date have not yielded any results. With upgrades and modernization for its artillery systems long overdue and the capability being shown by the public and private entities in developing indigenous howitzers, there definitely does not seem any further requirement of going the import way for the procurement of some variants of artillery guns to meet the requirements of the Army. Rather, on the other hand, the Government should provide the requisite funding and encouragement to private vendors to come up with the manufacturing and subsequently opening up for production line of guns. This in turn will not only save the long and expensive global tendering process and dependency on imports but also the country will be able to develop the much required strong DIB.
Rail guns will revolutionize both air defense and land attack projectiles!!! Currently only nuclear powered ships (Zumwalt) are purportedly carrying such a gun. Not sure how Indian Navy intends to power them using diesel turbines!!! US took an extraordinarily long time to perfect the rail gun (even though at the face of it the technology appears simple!). Reasonable guess would put at least 10+ years for DRDO to productize this one.
Laser and microwave based stuff from DRDO are designed more for crowd control and ordnance disposal. Nothing serious happening on this end. US Airforce and Navy too dreamed big on laser based gun for decades (there was even an air borne laser after having spent billions!) but not much has come out of it. I am not so bullish on laser based air defense - the kind of precision for 'radar lock' and control systems that're required to 'seer' the skin of a missile/aircraft with a laser is not easily attainable (I doubt DRDO will simultaneously work on that kind of radars and lasers). Even US (after decades of work) has confined such guns to attack slow and low flying UAVs/Helicopters - targets that can easily be taken down by hand held Stinger/Strela/Mistral!!!!
There's also some rumor that work being done on particle beam weapons (KALI) that could be used to fry the electronics on missiles/aircraft. Not much is known as the government has explicitly stated that it's 'top secret'!
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MRLS are good for soft targets spread out in the open. They are usually used against area targets. Missiles, OTOH are used for precision strikes on important tactical or strategic targets. Imagine your AOR is Lahore. You need to neutralize enemy command infrastructure in the midst of Pakistan's 2nd largest city. How would you attack? Carpet bomb the area with a Pinaka battery? Or go for a precision strike on enemy C2 nodes with a missile? Each system is cost effective in the setting for which it is designed.
They have Cyska LED installed in them. Cyska LED. Light years ahead.
On a more serious note, a single regiment of ATAGS can fire 108 rounds in 30 seconds and have them all land on target at the exact same time. Imagine what it would be like to stand in the line of fire of an Indian Arty regiment equipped with ATAGS. One moment its all quiet and you are sitting in your trench or patrolling on foot. The next instant, the world around you explodes as 108 arty shells of 155mm land on you and your buddies within a span of 2 seconds, levelling the area and effectively suppressing your unit. 2 minutes later, the ATAGS regiment has already scooted and an Indian Infantry formation is charging your lines. Half your unit is dead or wounded, another half have been shell shocked and lost their will to fight. That leaves you alone to repel the attack. Good luck.
There is no Western towed field howitzer that can do even half of such a fire mission.
Then there is the fact that Westerners rely mostly on the M777 which loads a 155X39 mm round, thereby limiting the range of the gun.
