India’s New 85-Second ‘Shoot-and-Scoot’ Howitzer Gears Up for Army Trials.

The Indian Army is set to test a new mounted gun system (MGS) designed to fire six rounds in a minute and reposition in just 85 seconds, a shoot-and-scoot capability meant to dodge counter-fire and boost battlefield survivability.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 155mm/52-caliber howitzer is mounted on an 8×8 high-mobility truck and has a strike range of over 45 kilometres (28 miles). It is also reportedly capable of operating in desert and high-altitude environments, delivering accurate and consistent fire.

The army has already directed the DRDO’s Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) to prepare the system for trials across diverse terrains and weather conditions.

“The MGS performed well during internal trials by VRDE at Balasore and Pokhran”, said VRDE Director Shri G. Ramamohana Rao. “It meets the qualitative requirements laid down by the army”.

A ‘Viable’ Solution –

The MGS is based on the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System already being acquired under a 6,900 crore rupee ($825 million) deal. While the weapon itself remains the same, the MGS introduces key mobility features: shock-absorbing stabilisers, a blast-resistant armoured cabin, onboard electric power, and integrated digital fire controls.

DRDO has licensed manufacturing rights to Bharat Forge, which will produce the system domestically with up to 85% indigenous components. Although the defence ministry floated a competitive tender in 2023 for 300 mounted guns, Indian officials estimate the army may need 700 to 800 units, including the DRDO-Bharat Forger version.

“The MGS is a viable solution. The advantage of this system is that it can be rapidly deployed and matches the mobility of mechanized forces. It can destroy enemy targets and move out before retaliatory fire takes place”, a DRDO official said. “Adding mobility to artillery guns enhances their lethality and firepower”.

Bigger Artillery Overhaul –

The MGS is part of a broader effort to modernize India’s artillery forces, anchored around five priorities: mobility, range, precision, rapid targeting, and improved survivability. The plan includes equipping all regiments with 155mm guns, inducting longer-range missiles and rockets, deploying precision-guided ammunition, upgrading surveillance units, and shortening the sensor-to-shooter loop.

In late 2024, the ministry signed a 7,629 crore rupee ($913 million) contract with Larsen & Toubro for 100 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled guns, expanding a fleet acquired under a 2017 deal with South Korea’s Hanwha Techwin.

It is mention worthy that, apart from the US-made M777 ultra-light howitzers, all artillery gun systems acquired over the past six years have been developed domestically, according to local sources.

Team Maverick