[🇮🇳] India's weapon development, Testing, Purchase, sale, upgrade, Collaborations and Joint venture in Defense sectors.

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Newly Inducted INS Tamal With 500 KM-Range BrahMos Challenges S-400, S-500, Iron Dome Systems​

Measuring approximately 125 metres long and weighing 3,900 tonnes, INS Tamal's stealth capability and sleek design are noteworthy. (X/@indiannavy)© Copyright (C) new18.com. All Rights Reserved.
Amid growing concerns over maritime security, India is significantly ramping up its naval capabilities to counter increasing Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean. With Beijing expanding its presence under the pretext of research missions, India is investing heavily in frigates, warships, and aircraft carriers to strengthen the Indian Navy and safeguard its strategic interests.


On July 1, the INS Tamal, a stealth frigate of the Tushil class (Kirvak-III), was inducted into the Indian Navy with Russian cooperation. This addition significantly boosts India’s naval power and maritime security. India and Russia have signed multi-billion-pound agreements for constructing aircraft carriers and warships.
With the commissioning of INS Tamal, India has received two of the four frigates, with the remaining two to be manufactured domestically. The deal, valued at approximately Rs 21,000 crore, was finalised in October 2016.
The INS Tamal boasts numerous advanced features, including an ultra-modern radar system and the Brahmos cruise missile. The missile’s range has been extended from 290 km to 450-500 km, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. Measuring approximately 125 metres long and weighing 3,900 tonnes, the frigate’s stealth capability and sleek design are noteworthy.

Related video: INS Tamal enters duty: Russia-built stealth frigate boosts Navy’s edge (The Economic Times)

INS Tamal enters duty: Russia-built stealth frigate boosts Navy’s edge

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Reports from the India Defence Research Wing indicate that the radar system on INS Tamal can detect air strikes and missile attacks promptly, enabling effective countermeasures. The frigate’s ultra-modern weapon system ensures robust maritime defence and a strong retaliatory capability against adversaries.
INS Tamal is expected to be highly effective in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions, which have become security hotspots due to China’s aggressive policies. Additionally, INS Tamal will enhance surveillance against infiltration attempts from Pakistan through the Arabian Sea border near Kutch.

INS Tamal–BrahMos Duo Boosts India’s Naval Strike Power​

Before its induction, the Indian Navy tested INS Tamal’s capabilities in the Andaman-Nicobar region, evaluating its mobility and weapon systems, especially the Brahmos cruise missile. The missile demonstrated remarkable performance, flying at an elevation so low—just 3 to 4 metres above the sea surface—that it evaded radar detection. This capability makes Brahmos a formidable asset, posing a significant challenge to enemy defences.


Radar systems operate by detecting radiation reflected from objects at a certain minimum altitude. However, the BrahMos cruise missile launched from INS Tamal struck its target while flying at an ultra-low altitude, effectively staying below radar detection. This achievement marks a significant breakthrough for India and poses a serious challenge for potential adversaries.

Even Advanced Systems Like S-500 or Iron Dome May Fail​

The question arises whether air defence systems can intercept the Brahmos missile fired from INS Tamal. INS Tamal has been specifically designed for naval warfare, but it also carries missiles capable of striking land-based targets. This makes it a versatile platform for multi-role operations, including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missions.

The recent test of the BrahMos missile from INS Tamal demonstrated its ability to fly at extremely low altitudes—just three to four metres above the surface. If this capability is maintained during actual anti-surface missions, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for even the most advanced air defence systems like the S-400, S-500, or Iron Dome to detect and intercept it.

INS Tamal To Be Armed With Barak-8 Missiles​

Barak-8 missiles can also be deployed on INS Tamal, significantly enhancing its air defence capabilities. Specifically designed to counter aerial threats, the Barak-8 can effectively intercept fighter jets, missiles, UAVs, and drones. With a strike range of 70 to 100 kilometres, this vertically launched missile system offers 360-degree coverage, making it a highly versatile weapon. Known for its precision in tracking and neutralizing threats, the Barak-8 adds a formidable layer of defence.

MSN

 

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DRDO Unveils Indigenous Mounted Gun System: All-Terrain Firepower with Advanced Crew Protection​

Pune (Maharashtra), July 07 2025 (ANI): DRDO on July 07 unveiled its latest development, The Mounted Gun System (MGS) which is a cross country truck mounted heavy artillery gun system with exclusively developed mobility and crew protection features in its class It has been indigenously developed by involving Indian Industries, DPSU, Premier Academia, under leadership of DRDO MGS has high mobility in terms of gradient, side slope, trench crossing, cross country capability and can operate in desert and mountainous terrain.

MSN

 

[Krishna with Flute]

PUNE/AHMEDNAGAR: The Indian Army’s plan to induct long-range indigenous artillery systems are in advanced stages, with the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) ready for its first product model test, while the Mounted Gun System (MGS) technology demonstrator is awaiting trial.


“The first gun system is ready for the mandatory first of product model test. The first regiment of 18 ATAGS will be inducted within a year thereafter,” said RP Pandey, Project Director (PD) of ATAGS, speaking to The New Indian Express.

The gun has a proven range of over 45 kilometres and can be deployed in 85 seconds, Pandey said at the DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. He added that the gun can be deployed in 90 seconds and has been tested up to a range of 48 kilometres. Its wider arc of fire enables more destructive capabilities.

The procurement of this system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Army’s artillery regiments and is expected to enhance operational readiness.

In March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts for the procurement of 307 ATAGS 155mm/52 calibre guns and 327 high-mobility 6x6 gun towing vehicles, at a cost of around ₹6,900 crore. The ATAGS and towing vehicles will be procured from Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, respectively.


Related video: India Showcases Mounted Gun System | DRDO’s Indigenous Artillery Power Hits The Road (Business Today)


The ATAGS will replace older, smaller calibre guns and enhance the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities.

The ministry said, “ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army’s firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes.”

Taking the proven capabilities of ATAGS further, DRDO’s Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar has developed the first technology demonstrator of the Mounted Gun System.

The MGS is a cross-country truck-mounted heavy artillery system (based on the 155mm/52 calibre ATAGS) with shoot-and-scoot capability. It has been developed indigenously with contributions from Indian industry, defence PSUs, and premier academic institutions, under DRDO’s leadership.

Artillery systems are typically used for indirect fire and are crucial in modern military operations due to their ability to strike targets deep inside enemy territory, operate in all weather conditions, function day and night, and use various types of ammunition.

However, once fired, these guns can reveal their position and become targets for enemy artillery. Mobility is therefore key. By adding mobility, the guns can fire and relocate quickly — a “shoot and scoot” capability — enhancing both survivability and lethality.

Bharat Kushwaha, Design Leader of the MGS project, told The New Indian Express that “high-mobility artillery was a technology gap which needed to be addressed. The Mounted Gun System (MGS) was a viable solution.”

A vehicle carrying the Mounted Gun System technology of the Indian army is seen here.
To that end, VRDE undertook a technology demonstrator project to design and develop a 155mm/52 calibre MGS based on ATAGS. The gun has been adapted onto an 8x8 cross-country wheeled vehicle with stabilisers and supporting interface structures.

The project has introduced state-of-the-art technologies in carrier vehicles, stabilisers, armoured cabins, ammunition handling cranes, on-board power systems, and integrated compact electronic controllers.

The MGS offers high mobility, including gradient, side-slope, trench-crossing and cross-country capabilities, and can operate in both desert and mountainous terrain.

This system can be rapidly deployed with mechanised forces, destroy enemy targets, and move before facing retaliatory fire.

Both ATAGS and MGS have over 80% indigenous content. “Except for the auto gun alignment and positioning system, muzzle velocity radar, and some types of batteries, everything else is indigenous,” said an official.

The ATAGS can be deployed in 90 seconds to fire its first shell, while the MGS can do so in 80 seconds.

Army requirements are expected to grow. G. Ramamohana Rao, Director of VRDE, said, “Initially, the Army needs 300 such guns, but the total requirement may rise to 700.”

With the modern systems now ready for induction, DRDO has begun working on indigenising remaining components and developing advanced ammunition. This includes shells fitted with ramjets and inertial guidance systems to improve range and precision.

MSN

 

[Krishna with Flute]

PUNE/AHMEDNAGAR: The Indian Army’s plan to induct long-range indigenous artillery systems are in advanced stages, with the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) ready for its first product model test, while the Mounted Gun System (MGS) technology demonstrator is awaiting trial.

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“The first gun system is ready for the mandatory first of product model test. The first regiment of 18 ATAGS will be inducted within a year thereafter,” said RP Pandey, Project Director (PD) of ATAGS, speaking to The New Indian Express.

The gun has a proven range of over 45 kilometres and can be deployed in 85 seconds, Pandey said at the DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. He added that the gun can be deployed in 90 seconds and has been tested up to a range of 48 kilometres. Its wider arc of fire enables more destructive capabilities.

The procurement of this system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Army’s artillery regiments and is expected to enhance operational readiness.

In March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts for the procurement of 307 ATAGS 155mm/52 calibre guns and 327 high-mobility 6x6 gun towing vehicles, at a cost of around ₹6,900 crore. The ATAGS and towing vehicles will be procured from Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, respectively.


Related video: India Showcases Mounted Gun System | DRDO’s Indigenous Artillery Power Hits The Road (Business Today)


The ATAGS will replace older, smaller calibre guns and enhance the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities.

The ministry said, “ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army’s firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes.”

Taking the proven capabilities of ATAGS further, DRDO’s Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar has developed the first technology demonstrator of the Mounted Gun System.

The MGS is a cross-country truck-mounted heavy artillery system (based on the 155mm/52 calibre ATAGS) with shoot-and-scoot capability. It has been developed indigenously with contributions from Indian industry, defence PSUs, and premier academic institutions, under DRDO’s leadership.

Artillery systems are typically used for indirect fire and are crucial in modern military operations due to their ability to strike targets deep inside enemy territory, operate in all weather conditions, function day and night, and use various types of ammunition.



However, once fired, these guns can reveal their position and become targets for enemy artillery. Mobility is therefore key. By adding mobility, the guns can fire and relocate quickly — a “shoot and scoot” capability — enhancing both survivability and lethality.

Bharat Kushwaha, Design Leader of the MGS project, told The New Indian Express that “high-mobility artillery was a technology gap which needed to be addressed. The Mounted Gun System (MGS) was a viable solution.”

A vehicle carrying the Mounted Gun System technology of the Indian army is seen here.
To that end, VRDE undertook a technology demonstrator project to design and develop a 155mm/52 calibre MGS based on ATAGS. The gun has been adapted onto an 8x8 cross-country wheeled vehicle with stabilisers and supporting interface structures.

The project has introduced state-of-the-art technologies in carrier vehicles, stabilisers, armoured cabins, ammunition handling cranes, on-board power systems, and integrated compact electronic controllers.



The MGS offers high mobility, including gradient, side-slope, trench-crossing and cross-country capabilities, and can operate in both desert and mountainous terrain.

This system can be rapidly deployed with mechanised forces, destroy enemy targets, and move before facing retaliatory fire.

Both ATAGS and MGS have over 80% indigenous content. “Except for the auto gun alignment and positioning system, muzzle velocity radar, and some types of batteries, everything else is indigenous,” said an official.

The ATAGS can be deployed in 90 seconds to fire its first shell, while the MGS can do so in 80 seconds.

Army requirements are expected to grow. G. Ramamohana Rao, Director of VRDE, said, “Initially, the Army needs 300 such guns, but the total requirement may rise to 700.”

With the modern systems now ready for induction, DRDO has begun working on indigenising remaining components and developing advanced ammunition. This includes shells fitted with ramjets and inertial guidance systems to improve range and precision.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

With 12,000-km Range, India’s New Bomber Can Outpace B-21 Raider, Strike Across Continents​

Story by Satyaki Baidya
• 22h•
3 min read

The strategic bomber will strengthen India’s nuclear deterrence by ensuring the capability to retaliate after a first strike. (Representative/AP)© Copyright (C) new18.com. All Rights Reserved.
In a bold leap in military capability, India is preparing to develop an ultra-long-range strategic bomber for the Indian Air Force, marking a major shift in its defence doctrine. Designed to strike targets over 12,000 kilometres away, the proposed bomber would give India the unprecedented ability to hit cities far away, signalling the country’s move from regional dominance to global power projection.


Inspired by bombers like the Russian TU-160 ‘Blackjack’ and the American B-21 Raider, this development marks India’s next major military investment.

Why Does India Need Such A Bomber?​

The necessity for such a bomber arises from the changing nature of warfare, which now includes cyber, space, and long-range airstrikes. While China progresses with the H-20 strategic bomber and the United States continues global power projection with the B-2 Spirit and the forthcoming B-21 Raider, India seeks to enhance its nuclear triad with a strategic airborne platform that can execute surgical or nuclear strikes from any distance, significantly bolstering its deterrence capabilities.

Inspired By Russia’s TU-160 Strategic Bomber​

The Russian TU-160 ‘Blackjack’, known as the fastest and heaviest supersonic strategic bomber with a strike range of up to 12,300 kilometres and a payload capacity of 40 tons, serves as a key model for Indian defence analysts and DRDO engineers. the TU-160 is being viewed as a ‘regional model’, with its design, technology, and range adapted to align with India’s geopolitical objectives.

BrahMos Explained: India’s game-changing supersonic cruise missile jolts Pakistan
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The Indian bomber is expected to feature variable geometry wings or ‘swing wing’ design, optimising fuel efficiency and speed during flight.

Longer Range Than The US B-21 Raider​

India’s proposed bomber aims to surpass the range of the American B-21 Raider, still under development with an estimated range of 9,300 kilometres. This would allow India to operate directly in America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.

The B-21 Raider, developed by Northrop Grumman, will feature stealth design, radar avoidance, and automated navigation systems, qualities likely to be incorporated in India’s bomber, alongside the integration of supersonic cruise missiles like Brahmos-NG.

BrahMos-NG: Air-Dropped Doom For Enemy Targets​

The bomber’s weapon load will be a standout feature, capable of carrying up to four units of Brahmos-NG, supersonic missiles with a range of 290-450 kilometres, capable of swiftly targeting enemy airbases, radars, command centres, or nuclear sites.

Additional armaments may include short-range ballistic weapons like Agni-1P, laser-guided bombs, and anti-radiation missiles.

Who Is the Technology Partner?​

For this ambitious project, the Indian government, alongside DRDO, HAL, and ADA (Aircraft Development Agency), is negotiating technology transfer with foreign defence companies, with Russia and France at the forefront.

A specialised turbofan engine will be essential, potentially developed from a modified version of the GE-414 engine or one similar to Russia’s NK-32 engine.

What Are the Strategic Advantages?​

• Global Strike Capability: India will gain the ability to strike targets not just in Asia, but anywhere in the world.
• Second-Strike Assurance: It will strengthen India’s nuclear deterrence by ensuring the capability to retaliate after a first strike.
• Force Projection: The bomber will enhance India’s airborne strength, helping counterbalance the US, China, and Russia in the Indo-Pacific.

The Defence Ministry and Air Force have named this initiative ‘Ultra Long-Range Strike Aircraft’ or ULRA, currently in the concept and design phase, with initial research and dummy models underway. The first prototype is anticipated to fly between 2032-2035.

MSN

 

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Pakistan, China on Alert? India Develops New Artillery Gun, Can Hit Lahore in 80 Seconds from Amritsar​

Story by Vaishnav Akash
• 1d•
2 min read

Pakistan, China on Alert? India Develops New Artillery Gun, Can Hit Lahore in 80 Seconds from Amritsar
In a leap toward military self-reliance, India has unveiled an indigenous artillery system capable of hitting targets inside Pakistan in mere seconds. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), developed by the DRDO with key contributions from Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, is now among the most powerful towed artillery systems in the world.



Designed for swift deployment and deadly precision, ATAGS can fire shells up to 48 kilometers, a range that theoretically allows it to strike Lahore from Amritsar, with only 2 km to spare between the two cities.

Often hailed as the next-generation successor to the iconic Bofors gun used during the Kargil War, the ATAGS fires 155 mm/52 caliber shells and operates on a shoot-and-scoot mechanism, making it extremely difficult for enemies to target its location. The gun can reposition in just 85 seconds, firing five shells in a single minute, or 10 in 2.5 minutes.

The system is mounted on a 8x8 high-mobility vehicle capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h. Impressively, it gets battle-ready within 80 seconds of halt, making it one of the fastest in its class to go from rest to rapid-fire mode.

Its ability to perform in extreme conditions, from the deserts of Rajasthan to the snowfields of Siachen has already been tested and proven. And with plans underway to develop GPS-guided, ramjet-powered shells that could stretch its strike range to 80–90 km, ATAGS is poised to redefine India’s artillery warfare strategy.




What adds even more weight to the breakthrough is its cost efficiency. While global artillery systems with comparable firepower are priced at ₹35–40 crore, ATAGS is expected to cost just ₹15 crore. Around 85% of its components are made in India, highlighting the growing strength of indigenous defense manufacturing.

In March 2025, the Indian government sanctioned a ₹6,900 crore deal to procure 307 ATAGS units. The first batch of 18 guns is set for delivery by February 2027. Once deployed, these artillery guns will significantly boost India’s deterrence posture along sensitive borders.

MSN