look news india
New Delhi, 27 September (HS). Amid the standoff with China on the northern border, the Indian Army has established a new high-altitude firing range in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector. This is the first high altitude firing range of the Army, from where the capabilities of howitzers can be tested by firing them. The Army's modernization and capability development plan is linked to the 'self-reliance' campaign.
The Director General of the Indian Army's Artillery Regiment said that a new firing range has been opened in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on the northern border with China, where we can fire our howitzers and test their capabilities. The new firing range of the Indian Army is helping to practice firing of howitzers and other important weapon systems. This is the first high altitude range and we are trying to find more ranges in other states, it was told at a briefing on artillery modernization plans.
The new firing range of the Indian Army has been established in Arunachal Pradesh at a time when Chinese aggression has led to a situation where a military standoff is going on between the two countries since May-June 2020. On modernization plans, the officer said that the artillery regiments of the Indian Army are undergoing modernization as per the stipulated time frame. The Army's modernization and capability development plan is linked to the 'self-reliance' campaign. The Army has several 155 mm caliber howitzers, including the Ultra-Light Howitzer (ULH), K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and Sarang, which are part of the Howitzer Regiment of Artillery.
Ultra-light howitzers have been deployed on the northern border, which are light in weight and can be transported by helicopters. The Dhanush cannons are an electronic upgrade of the Bofors guns, while the Sarang cannon system has been upgraded from 130 mm to 155 mm calibre. More number of K-9 Vajra, Dhanush and Sarang cannon systems are being inducted in the near future. The Indian Army is also in the process of inducting other 155 mm gun systems, including the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Mounted Gun System (MGS) and Towed Gun System (TGS).