• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Mounted Gun System [MGS]

The Indian Army issued a new Request For Information (RFI) 03 April 2021 to acquire the Mounted Gun System (MGS) for its artillery units, which would supplement and improvise their shoot-and-scoot and rapid-fire capabilities. The Army had been trying to procure a 155mm/52-caliber MGS for about 20 years, with the first request for proposals (RFP) floated in February 2002. When this did not yield results, the government withdrew the previous RFP and re-issued it more than a decade later, in June 2013.

Unlike towed artillery which have to be hauled into the battlefield by multi-wheeled trucks, a Mounted Gun System [MGS] is mounted on a high-mobility truck. These guns can be brought into battle much faster and are useful to support mobile infantry in the plains and deserts. The specially modified truck has hydraulically operated rear stabilisers to steady the vehicle while firing. The MGS is part of a massive purchase of over 2,800 howitzers as part of its Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) launched after the Kargil War in 1999. The Army's requirement for 814 MGS howitzers worth Rs 8,547 crore was given an Acceptance of Necessity (AON) by the Defence Acquisition Council in September 2011.

By 2018 the AON had expired and it was unclear whether the Army will want such a system in the near-term. As many as 200 guns were to be bought off the shelf and the remainder to be built within the country through technology transfers to an Indian partner with all deliveries to be completed by the end of the 13th five-year defence plan ending in 2022. Of course, by 2021 none of this had happened.

Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in April 2018 issued a circular regarding applicability of ‘Guidelines for Selection of Technological Partner’ to the Expression of Interests (EoIs) issued prior to their coming into force of the new guidelines. Mounted Gun System EOI for selection of technology partner was floated for participation in the forthcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) for 155mm Mounted Gun System to be issued by the Army HQ. MoU had been signed by OFB in August 2017 with M/s BAE Systems, USA with validity of two years from the date of signing.

The Mounted Gun System (MGS) developed by the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) Jabalpur was first unveiled at the Defexpo in Chennai in April 2018. The internal firing trials at the Proof Establishment in Balasore would validate not just the gun but also its integration with the 8x8 Tatra vehicle on which it is mounted. The test of a new gun system - the fifth type in a series of Army howitzer requirement projected nearly two decades ago - came at a time when the Army has begun receiving its first guns in over 30 years.

Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) on 13 April 2018 unveiled its latest product viz 155mm 52 Cal Mounted Gun system at a function held at the ongoing DefExpo 2018 in Chennai. It was launched jointly by CMD, BEML Shri Deepak Kumar Hota and DGOF & Chairman OFB Shri S K Chourasia. The uniqueness of this project is that it has been completely and independently designed and manufactured by OFB in association with BEML & BEL and is therefore a shining example of ‘Make in India’. The gun is equipped with the state-of-the-art laying and sighting system such as GPS aided INS, muzzle velocity feeder data management, day and night firing, ballasting computer system capability.

The base vehicle used for the gun system is the BEML-TATRA 8X8 truck with all differential lockable and a powerful 300 KW (402 HP) engine, which provides it a power to weight ratio of more than 10KW/ton. This is a high mobility vehicle with independent wheel suspension and swinging half axles to provide enhanced cross-country mobility. The vehicle has a cruising speed of 80 km/hr on road and more than 30 km/hr in cross-country and has a cruising range of 1000 km without refuelling.

The armament used in the 155 mm 52 Cal has a target destruction capability of approximately 42 kms. The Gun System combines with the advantage of high mobility performance of a truck with accurate long range fire power of a 155 mm 52 Cal gun and with its onboard ammunition storage capability of 18 rounds of HE shells as well as 18 BMCS and 2-6 chargers. It can be automatically deployed in any terrain and can perform a mission independently. With its high strategic manoeuvrability in all types of terrain it will serve as an all weather reinforcement for the infantry and will be a present force multiplier for the Indian artillery.

By early 2020 the OFB 155 X 52 Mounted Gun System (MGS) had been developed and was undergoing internal validation trials. Another achievement is the successful trial of 155 X 52 barrels and the related breech mechanism by a global major. These barrels are at par with those manufactured in Europe.

Ministry of Defence, Government of India intends to procure 155 mm/ 52 Calibre Mounted Gun System. With a view to identify probable Indian vendors who can undertake the said project OEMs/ Vendors were requested in a Request for Information (RFI) issued 03 April 2021 to forward information on the product which they can offer. The first part of the RFI incorporated operational & technical characteristics and features of 155 mm/ 52 Calibre Mounted Gun System. Amplifications or comments to changes suggested if any, may also be made in order to facilitate review of the operational requirements. The second part of the RFI stated that conditions to be acceptable to vendors and methodology of seeking response from vendors.

Regiments are to be equipped with Mounted Gun System to provide matching mobility for high intensity operations with mechanized forces. The proposed 155 mm/ 52 Calibre Mounted Gun System will be employed in plains, mountains, high altitude area, semi desert and desert terrain along the Northern and Western Borders of the country for execution of Artillery tasks.

The 155/ 52 Calibre Gun System should be able to fire all in-service ammunition at the time of trials and precision ammunition under procurement. The vehicle of 155/ 52 Calibre Mounted Gun System should have capability to operate in existing road and track network existing and created in mountain and desert terrain in own Northern and Western Borders. Fire Control System (FCS). 155 mm/ 52 Calibre Gun System should have Inertial Navigation System based sight system with capability to orient and fixing the location of the Gun System. The FCS should also have capability to provide day and night direct and indirect firing. FCS should be compatible to Project SHAKTI. The 155 mm/ 52 Calibre Gun System should have Built in test facility (BITE) to support fault finding and repairs of the equipment. All components/ sub-assemblies should confirm to relevant MIL STD(S) / JSS-55555 or equipment internationally accepted standards.

The solicitation of offers will be as per ‘Single Stage-Two Bid System’. It would imply that a ‘Request for Proposal’ would be issued soliciting the Technical and Commercial offers together, but in two separate sealed envelopes. The validity of commercial offers would be at least 18 months from the last date of submission of offers. The technical offers would be evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) to check its compliance with RFP.

The equipment of all TEC cleared vendors would be put through a trial evaluation in India on a ‘No Cost No Commitment’ basis. A staff evaluation would be carried out by SHQ to analyse the result of field evaluation and shortlist the equipment for introduction into service. Among the vendors cleared by GS evaluation, a Contract Negotiations Committee would decide the lowest cost bidder (L1) and conclude the appropriate contract. Vendor would be bound to provide product support for time period specified in the RFP, which includes spares and maintenance tools/jigs/fixtures for field and component level repairs.