The Indian Army has set up a new firing range in Arunachal Pradesh, which is helping the army test and practice howitzers and other critical weapons. Director General of the Army’s Regiment of Artillery, a Lieutenant General rank officer, said the Army is set to get another firing range near the northern border with China. “A new firing range has been opened in the Tawang sector, where we can test our howitzers and calibrate their capabilities. This is the first high-altitude range, and we are planning more such in other states as well,” he said. Trying to find the range.”
This new firing range has come up at a time when there is a tense situation on the border with China since May-June 2020. Talking about the modernization plans of Artillery, the officer said that the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army is being modernized rapidly and it is being completed within a given time frame. “Our modernization and capacity development plan is linked to the ‘self-reliance’ campaign and is based on the principle of ‘modernization through indigenization’,” he said.
Director General of Artillery Affairs in the Army, Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar said that in view of the national security challenges, various modern platforms and equipment are being procured to enhance the capabilities of the artillery units. “Today, we are modernizing at a pace like never before and that too within the stipulated time frame,” he told reporters ahead of the 198th anniversary of the artillery regiment on September 28.
Kumar said that development work for hypersonic missiles is also in progress by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Hypersonic missiles can fly at speeds of Mach five or more than five times the speed of sound. The Army has already deployed 100 K-9 Vajra cannon systems. It is in the process of purchasing another batch of 100 K-9s. K-9 Vajras were originally purchased for desert deployment, but after the eastern Ladakh standoff, the Army has deployed a large number of howitzers in this high altitude area as well.
The officer said that now all 155 mm caliber cannon systems will be standard in the army. He said several 155 mm caliber guns including Ultra-Light Howitzer (ULH), K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and Sharang have been inducted into the army. He said, “ULHs have been inducted on the northern borders. These are light guns and can be hang-lifted via helicopters. The K-9 Vajra gun system is ideal for mechanized operations. The Dhanush artillery guns are equipped with Bofors guns. upgrades, while the Sharang cannon system has been upgraded from 130 mm to 155 mm calibre.”
The Lieutenant General further informed that more K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and Sharang cannon systems will be inducted into the army in the near future. He also informed that the Army is also in the process of inducting other 155 mm cannon systems, including Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Mounted Gun System (MGS) and Towed Gun System (TGS). The contract for ATAGS is expected to be completed soon, which will be manufactured by two DRDO partners. The official said trials of the mounted gun system and towed gun system are likely to begin in 2025. “The MGS vehicle carries the crew and ammunition and has ‘shoot and scoot’ capability, while the TGS is a lighter and more versatile cannon system,” he explained.
(input agency)