After ATAGS Proves Its Mettle In Armenia, Why Indian Artillery Guns Are Catching The Eye Of Middle East Countries | World News

New Delhi: Encouraged by the successful export and deployment of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) in Armenia, India’s defense export story is gaining momentum with many Middle Eastern countries starting to examine Indian-made artillery systems.

The major sale to Yerevan marked a turning point for India’s indigenous artillery program. Defense sources say ATAGS’s strong performance has attracted the interest of many Middle Eastern countries and led to a noticeable increase in diplomatic and trade assistance to New Delhi.

Designed and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with private sector giants Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, ATAGS is a 155 mm/52 caliber howitzer that has attracted global attention for its technical depth.

The system is known for its record firing range of over 48 kilometers, reliable accuracy and ability to move quickly across different terrains. These qualities attracted great attention from potential buyers.

Armenia’s purchasing decision played an important role in building trust. The country initially commissioned six ATAGS units before placing a much larger follow-up order for 84 additional weapons. The value of the deal is approximately $155 million. Defense officials see this operational deployment as a practical validation of the system’s reliability and battlefield readiness across different geographies.

The Armenia deal has sparked a wave of investigations across the Middle East, with two or three countries already moving beyond preliminary talks, according to officials familiar with the discussions. These countries received detailed technical briefings on a wide range of Indian artillery solutions produced by both public sector undertakings and private defense companies.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are understood to be among the interested players, having previously conducted trials in connection with Indian defense platforms or signed contracts for the component. Their renewed participation demonstrates growing confidence in India’s ability to deliver complex weapons systems at scale.

The assistance is not limited to the withdrawn ATAGS howitzer. Indian teams offer a broader artillery portfolio that includes mounted gun systems, ultra-light howitzers suitable for mountainous operations and advanced precision-guided munitions. One of the standout systems is the Kalyani Group’s MARG 155, a mounted artillery gun designed for rapid deployment and “fire and run” operations. This ability is valuable in fast-paced combat scenarios.

This series allows potential buyers to select systems that suit specific operational needs for desert warfare, high altitude defense or rapid response missions. Defense planners say the breadth of options has become a key strength of India’s strategy.

The increased interest also reflects a shift in the Middle East, where countries are trying to modernize their armed forces by expanding supply options. India’s defense offers stand out due to their compliance with NATO standards, competitive prices and openness to technology transfer. The approach appeals to countries seeking to build domestic maintenance and industrial capacity, as well as new acquisitions.

With ongoing discussions at senior levels, defense officials believe many of these investigations could lead to major export contracts. Such deals will provide a significant boost to India’s target of reaching 50,000 billion rupees or around $6 billion in annual defense exports by 2028-29.

Combining long-range firepower, mobility and modern network-centric warfare, Indian artillery systems position the country as a reliable and technologically capable defense partner for armed forces in the Middle East.