Ministry of Defense logo contract worth Rs 69 billion with Bharat Forge, Tata, 307 local artillery guns

The ministry said the 155mm/52 caliber gun gun will replace the aging and smaller caliber guns and enhance the artillery capabilities of the Indian army. File | Image source: AFP

The Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) for the procurement of 155mm, 52 caliber Advanced Towed Shoot Systems (ATAGS) and 6×6 gun trailer vehicles, with a total cost of approximately Rs 6,900 crore, on Wednesday (March 26 (March 26), 2025, 26 March 2025). By this signing, the ministry has so far received a contract worth Rs 1.4 crore in the fiscal year 2024-25.

The 60:40 ratio between Bharat Forge allocated a contract of 307 guns, announcing the lowest bid and TASL (184 guns and 123 guns, respectively). The contracts were signed on the South Street of the Secretariat Building by Defense Minister Rajesh Kumar Singh.

ATAGS is designed and developed by Pune-based Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Laboratory (ARDE) in collaboration with Bharat Forge and Tasl.

The ministry statement said that during the signing of the contract, the director of the ATAGS project in Arde, Pune (playing a key role in achieving the project) was recognized by the Minister of Defense for his great contribution and attracted attention.

The ministry said the 155mm/52 caliber ATAG will replace aging and smaller caliber guns and enhance the artillery capabilities of the Indian army. The Army has begun modernizing its drives, converting all artillery guns to 155mm. The statement added: “As the first major procurement of Indian military towed guns from the private sector, the project will provide a boost to the Indian gun manufacturing industry, especially the entire Indigenous Defensive Manufacturing ecosystem.”

Officials noted that domestic procurement will be greatly reduced as more than 65% of its domestically generated components will be significantly reduced. The main production subsystems include barrels, muzzle brakes, breech mechanisms, firing and recoil systems, and ammunition handling mechanisms.

The project is also expected to generate a large number of jobs, with an estimated 2 million men’s days in various industries and expanding defense export opportunities.