Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 25: The Indian Army has upgraded the 105 mm Indian Field Gun (IFG), one of the main artillery platforms of the Regiment of Artillery, by integrating an automatic gun-laying system aimed at improving accuracy, response time and battlefield effectiveness.
The move is part of the armed forces’ broader modernisation programme.
Under the upgrade, the traditional manual process of turning dials to align the gun with a target will now be computer-controlled. The automated system enables artillery crews to calculate firing solutions digitally and adjust the gun’s aim more quickly and accurately.
The Army’s FH-77B artillery guns, commonly known as Bofors guns, along with newer systems such as the K-9 Vajra and M777 howitzer, already use computer-assisted targeting systems.
“The laying of the gun via the automatic gun-laying technology will improve the effectiveness of the gun. This new addition will improve the response time of fire units and make the guns more accurate. Faster engagement time will also help with increasing the rate of fire,” an Army source said.
Officials said the auto-laying system significantly reduces target acquisition and re-laying time by replacing manual cranks with motorised drives integrated into digital fire-control systems.
The system is expected to enhance precision during high-angle mountain warfare operations and improve survivability through faster “shoot-and-scoot” capabilities, allowing artillery crews to fire and relocate rapidly to avoid enemy detection.
The modified gun was reportedly upgraded internally at the 506 Army Base Workshop.
The development comes as the Regiment of Artillery continues implementing the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, initiated after the Kargil War, under which the Army aims to gradually shift its artillery regiments towards the 155 mm calibre.
Currently, many artillery units still operate 105 mm guns.
In recent years, the Army has inducted indigenous Dhanush systems, the M777 ultra-light howitzers from BAE Systems and the South Korean-origin K-9 Vajra self-propelled guns.
The Army has also placed orders for 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), all of which use 155 mm artillery shells.