Critical Trials Commence For Indigenously Developed ‘Advanced Towed Artillery Gun’ 

The critical trials for the indigenously developed Advanced Towed Artillery Gun (ATAG) kicked off this week in order to test its safety and performance standards as per the requirements of the Indian Army.

A thorough review of the project will be undertaken following the assessments that comprise of firing in different terrains and modes.

The user-assisted testing trials will carry on for around three weeks following which the armed forces will take a call on putting these guns through field evaluation tests at higher altitudes as well, Economic Times reports.

The Trials Wing of the School of Artillery is carrying out the ongoing tests following which a comprehensive report on the same will be sent over to the Army Training Command to take a call on the future course of action.

The ATAG has a chamber size of 25 liters and an extended range of 48 kilometers as compared to 23 liters of that of the NATO standard guns.

This non-standard chamber, however, could reportedly restrict the export alternatives of this gun in the future considering that it would necessitate bespoke ammunition as the firing of standard rounds could present a safety concern.

The present group of tests includes day and night firing on tank-sized targets, tests for five-round busts, rapid-fire rate of 15 rounds in about three minutes, and also sustained firing of 60 rounds every hour. Mobility trials that comprise navigation across sand dunes and even high-speed trials over class 70 roads will also take place in the desert.