In a significant development, Pune-based Bharat Forge Limited has emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army's contract for buying 307 DRDO-developed ATAGS howitzers. The over Rs 6,000 crore contract will see Bharat Forge making 60 per cent of the 307 guns while the L2 or the second lowest bidder Tata Advanced Systems Limited will make the remaining 40 per cent of them.
Defence sources told media that the commercial bids of both firms were opened recently in which Bharat Forge emerged as the lowest bidder and would be getting the bulk of the order. The order would be a major success for the indigenous land-based weapon systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
This would also be the first sale of the guns in the country as the howitzers have already been exported to friendly foreign countries like Armenia.
The equipment manufacturers are also now looking at exporting to other friendly nations with a focus on the African market. The order of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) for deployment along the borders with China and Pakistan is expected to be placed in the current financial year.
The indigenous 155 mm, 52 calibre howitzer was developed by DRDO with two private partners Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Bharat Forge Ltd. The Ministry of Defence received a proposal from the Indian Army to buy 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) for deployment along the borders with China and Pakistan.
The trials of the ATAGS were completed at the Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR) between April 26 and May 2, 2023. The ATAGS is an indigenous towed artillery gun system project undertaken in mission mode by the DRDO as a part of the artillery modernisation programme of the Indian Army.
Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune is the nodal laboratory of the DRDO for the design & development of ATAGS, along with other DRDO laboratories.
