DRDO’s Mounted Gun System: One of an army’s most vital weapons, artillery frequently provides the missing piece in many successful operations. Artillery plays a major role in ground warfare by providing accurate target acquisition, indirect fire support, and the eventual elimination of enemy forces. The development of a 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Artillery Gun was undertaken by DRDO as a means of furnishing the armed services with this particular advantage.
The Indian Army has accepted the same after satisfactory trials. The Mounted cannon System (MGS) project was started by the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, in order to give the towed cannon the requisite mobility to meet the demands of mobile warfare.
On the basis of the developed Towed Artillery Gun System, VRDE created and produced MGS. In order to provide stability during firing, the system was developed on a single 8×8 high mobility vehicle that was integrated with a stabilisation system.
Modern systems like the RLG-based navigation system, integrated fire control system, automatic ammunition handling system, blast resistant cabin, leg type electro-mechanical stabilisers, on-board silent electric power system, integrated electronic controller, etc., have all been integrated onto the MGS.
With Tata’s support, Airbus plans to expand its defence production
DRDO’s Mounted Gun System
The locally created MGS is capable of firing NATO standard 155 mm ammunition and is on par with modern weapons that are accessible globally.
Following the system’s design and development, technical experiments were carried out at NCAT (VRDE), as well as on the beaten dessert track and cross-country track at PFFR, in order to determine the mobility parameters. In these trials, all of the intended parameters were met.
MGS firing test were conducted in September 2023 at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges (PFFR). During the trials at various Sectors of PFFR, a number of tests were conducted, including Minimum and Maximum Range Firing, Series I & II – Consistency Firing, Arc of Fire, and Direct Firing. Every test was carried out taking into account different shooting angles in both elevation and azimuth, as well as all firing zones.
