Artillery in the Indian Army: Integrated, Indigenised, and Battle-Ready

Artillery systems often referred to as God of War or King of Battles, is a military weapon designed to launch projectiles over long range. It provides fire support to infantry or to bombard enemy positions, damaging their bunkers and fortifications. They have been used in war since medieval times. The first use of artillery in India was recorded at the battle of Adoni during the Bahmani-Vijayanagar war, which took place in 1368.

Illustration by The Geostrata

The Regiment of Artillery is an operational arm (a regiment/corps) of the Indian Army. Formerly part of Royal Indian Artillery (RIA) of British Indian Army which itself traces its origins to the formation of Bombay Artillery in 1827.

It was later involved in extensive service in the First World War, in East Africa, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and Palestine. Today it is the second largest arm of the Indian Army, and with its guns, mortars, rocket launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance systems, missiles and artillery firepower, constitutes almost one-sixth of its total strength. 

The Regiment of Artillery was raised on 15 January 1935, when the first three Indian Field Regiments, originally numbered A, B, and C were authorised.

Originally called the 'Indian Regiment of Artillery', which later became 'The Regiment of Indian Artillery' on 1 November 1940 and 'Royal Regiment of Indian Artillery' in October 1945, after its success in World War II.

However, after the partition of India in 1947 the RIA was divided between the newly formed artillery regiments of India and Pakistan. In the coming years the artillery took part in all the operations fought by the Indian Army, the latest being the Kargil War. The School of Artillery of the Indian Army is situated at Devlali near Nashik, and the Regiment of Artillery Museum, established in 1970, is also situated in Nashik at Nasik Road Camp.

ARTILLERY SYSTEM IN INDIAN ARMY

The Indian Army  operates a diverse array of artillery systems, encompassing towed howitzers, self-propelled guns, and multiple rocket launchers. It has a mixture of imported, locally manufactured, and indigenously developed and manufactured artillery.

Some of them are given below:

1) Dhanush - Manufactured by the Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur, and is based on Transfer of Technology(ToT) agreement signed with Swedish Bofors. It is a 155mm 45 caliber long-range artillery gun capable of firing 60 rounds in 60 minutes with a maximum firing range of 38 km.

2) ATAGS - 155mm/52 caliber gun developed by DRDO and Bharat Forge, capable of firing at both low angle like a gun and high angle like a howitzer with a range of 45 km. Its unique feature is its High “burst fire” capability, which can fire a six-round burst in just 30 seconds.

3) M-777 Howitzer - It was acquired from the USA, and its 155 mm calibre suitability makes it extremely mobile, light weight, and can be lifted by Chinook helicopters for the deployment in the mountain region. 

4) K-9 Vajra - it is a 155mm/52 caliber tracked self-propelled Howitzer developed by South Korea's Hanwha Defence, and locally manufactured by Larsen and Toubro( L&T). In ‘burst mode’ it can fire 3 rounds in 30 seconds and has proven its capabilities in Ladakh when it was deployed against China.

5) Pinaka MBRL - Indigenous system that is capable of striking deep into enemy targets with precision. Manufactured by DRDO, L&T, and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. The Pinaka MK1 has a range of 40 km, MK2 has a range of 75 km, and an Extertend range variant with a range of 120 km. It is designed for quick strikes and can neutralise large enemy formations.

6) Smerch MBRL - provides long-range firepower with 12 rockets per launcher. This 300 mm caliber system of Russian origin, has a maximum range of 90 km and is used for deep-strike operations against enemy positions.

ARTILLERY IN INDIA'S WARS

Artillery has been the backbone of the Indian Army’s battlefield strategy, playing a very important role in changing the outcomes across various conflicts. In the  India-Pakistan war of 1947-48 , artillery systems were very helpful in defending the Srinagar airfield and pushed back Pakistan forces, who were disguised as tribal invaders. Despite delays in deployment, the Indian army pushed back Pakistan attacks.

In the 1962 Sino-Indian war, artillery provided support fire to the ground troops, despite facing significant challenges like weather and high altitude. The 13 Field Regiment was deployed to the Chushul sector in Ladakh, where they operated 25-pounder guns at altitudes reaching 15,000 feet—among the highest artillery positions globally at the time.

With the help of these guns, the Indian army  defended strategic places like Gurung Hill and Magar Hill, firing over 2,700 shells during the Battle of Chushul to repel Chinese advances. However, the Indian artillery faced limitations due to outdated equipment, logistical constraints, and the harsh Himalayan terrain, which affected mobility and supply lines.

Despite the various issues , the artillery units' efforts were important in delaying enemy progress and causing significant casualties. Unlike 1962, India was better prepared for Sikkim clashes in 1967, When Chinese forces initiated hostilities, Indian troops responded with sustained artillery firing , utilizing 75mm and 105mm guns to inflict significant casualties and repel advances, ultimately leading to an Indian victory.

This was a big blow back to the Chinese who had thought India possessed outdated artillery and also this gave a big morale boost to our defence forces who had faced defeat in 1962.

In the 1965 Indo-Pak war, artillery was used in the operations across diverse terrains, including Ladakh and Gujarat. 

It helped in the capture of Haji Pir Pass which was a strategic victory of India though we returned it to Pakistan in the Tashkent agreement.

In the Kashmir sector, the 52 Medium Regiment provided crucial fire support during operations in the Tithwal area. Their effective use of howitzers and 25-pounder guns supported infantry assaults, aiding in the capture of strategic positions such as Sanjoi and Mirpur. Upon successful completion of the operations, the 52 Medium regiment's were recognised with the honour title "Sanjoi Mirpur".

During the 1971 war, especially in the Eastern theater, artillery paved the way for greater offensives by bombing the critical enemy positions. The victory ensured India's triumph and the birth of Bangladesh, along with the battle of Basantar and the takeover of Dhaka.

The Kargil War in 1999 once again proved the worth of artillery in a high-altitude battle.

The conditions were well suited for successful operations by the Bofors FH-77B howitzers against the entrenched Pakistani network on mountain peaks, and such operations led to the successful recovery of territory by India. The artillery targeted the Pakistan building post in the hills which they had captured and gave serious blows ensuring capturing back of the hills.

MODERNISATION INITIATIVES

Facing threats from China and Pakistan, India needs to completely overhaul its existing units of artillery, most of which are in service for more than 30 years and need to be upgraded with the latest technologies. The Kargil war underscored the decisive role of artillery in the battlefield.

The long postponed 1999 Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan which intended almost 3,000  guns to be acquired by 2027  including 1,580 towed gun systems (TGS), 814 mounted gun systems (MGS), 100 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and 145 BAE Systems M777 155 mm calibre lightweight howitzers for the mountains, due to long delays of the procurement methods, only 8% of the total required unit have been inducted by the Indian Army till date.

The Indian Army has initiated a modernisation program to increase its firepower, mobility, and technological sophistication. The key to the program is the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System(ATAGS) designed by DRDO together with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, where 65% of this system is manufactured indigenously, which increases local production.

In March 2025, the Indian Defence Ministry inked deals worth around ₹6,900 crore (about $870 million) with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Bharat Forge Limited for the purchase of 307 ATAGS and 327 high-mobility 6x6 gun towing vehicles.

These systems will replace ageing 105mm and 130mm guns, bolstering the artillery strength of the Indian Army. The Army is also augmenting its self-propelled artillery with the K9 Vajra-T howitzers. After the induction of an initial batch was successful, a repeat order for 100 more was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security on December 12, 2024, and deliveries are expected to be completed by 2028.

The Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system, another native development, has had its range increased to 72 kilometers, and it is being further upgraded to 120 kilometers as part of ongoing initiatives, making it a crucial long-range precision strike capability. Mass production of the Guided Pinaka system commenced in November 2024, increasing its precision and effectiveness.

Artillery modernisation in India connotes not only technical changes but a strategic upheaval in the way warfare is envisaged and prepared for in the twenty-first century. In a network-centric warfare environment, Indian Army doctrine is accordingly moving away from conventional mass firepower toward precision-guided, real-time, and integrated strike capabilities.

The focus now shifts to speed, mobility, interoperability, and integrated use of surveillance platforms such as UAVs and satellites for target acquisition and damage assessment. 

Not just the induction of guns, but the establishment of an ecosystem — where artillery talks to drones, answers the call of satellite intel, and can operate as efficiently in the high-altitude terrain as in plains or deserts. Future plans include the adoption of smart ammunition and automated fire-control systems, along with AI-enabled battlefield management systems to enable artillery to respond faster and engage targets more accurately.

Development in indigenous technologies will also decrease dependence on foreign technology, facilitate exports, and develop a sound defense industrial base in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat.

In short, artillery is no longer a mere arm of support; it is fast becoming a decisive arm. The next war will be won by the side that sees first, shoots faster, and hits with precision — India is fast racing toward the edge of this perfect storm of artillery.

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BY PRASUN KASHYAP

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