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| Indian Artillery | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Artillery of India |
| Caption | Emblem associated with Indian artillery formations |
| Country | Republic of India |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Role | Fire support, air defense, surveillance |
| Size | Multiple regiments and formations |
| Garrison | Various cantonments including Deolali, Mathura, Sewri |
| Notable commanders | Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, General K. Sundarji, General Bipin Rawat |
| Battles | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Kargil War, Sino-Indian War |
Indian Artillery The artillery arm of India is a major component of the Indian Army, providing fire support, air defense, surveillance and counter-battery capabilities across diverse theaters such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and the plains of Punjab and Rajasthan. It traces institutional lineage through colonial-era units raised under the British Raj and later reorganizations after Indian Independence during leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and commanders such as Sam Manekshaw. The arm has evolved through participation in major conflicts including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Kargil War, and deployments along the Line of Actual Control with the People's Liberation Army (China).
Artillery in South Asia predates modern states, with early use recorded during the Mughal Empire and engagements involving Shivaji and Tipu Sultan. Under the British East India Company, units like the Madras Artillery and Bengal Artillery served in campaigns such as the Anglo-Mysore Wars, Anglo-Maratha Wars, and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Reforms after 1858 integrated colonial batteries into the British Indian Army and saw action in the First World War and the Second World War across theaters like Mesopotamia, Burma Campaign, and North Africa. Post-1947, the artillery underwent partition between India and Pakistan (1947–present), reorganization during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, modernization under chiefs such as K. Sundarji, and doctrine shifts following experiences in the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani conflicts.
Artillery formations are structured into regiments, brigades, divisions and corps-level formations within the Indian Army. Units include field regiments, medium regiments, mountain regiments, missile regiments, and air defense units deployed under commands like Northern Command (India), Western Command (India), Eastern Command (India), and Southern Command (India). Historical regiments include heralded formations such as the 1st Field Regiment (India), batteries raised during the World War I era, and units awarded gallantry in the 1971 campaign in East Pakistan. Specialized corps elements coordinate with formations like Indian Army Aviation Corps, Corps of Engineers (India), and Signal Regiment (India) for integrated operations.
Artillery inventory comprises towed guns, self-propelled howitzers, multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), surface-to-air missile systems, and battlefield surveillance assets. Key platforms include the Dhanush (gun) and indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, the Bofors 155 mm howitzer procured during the 1980s, the Pinaka MRL system, the Akash (missile) for air defense, and the Smerch-class systems evaluated for long-range fires. Self-propelled systems such as the K-9 Vajra and tracked platforms from suppliers like Bharat Forge and Tata Motors augment mobility for formations operating in Punjab and Rajasthan. Counter-battery radars, artillery-locating UAVs including systems similar to Heron (UAV), battlefield management systems linked to Integrated Air Command and Control System and surveillance from platforms like the Netra (AEW&C) family support targeting.
Doctrine emphasizes combined arms operations integrating artillery with infantry and armored units in formations influenced by Cold War lessons and regional conflicts like the 1965 and 1971 wars. Tactics include counter-battery fire, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses during joint operations with the Indian Air Force, and mountain artillery tactics refined in engagements such as the Kargil War. Fire planning leverages forward observation officers, UAV surveillance, and signals from formations like Corps of Signals (India). The shift toward precision-guided munitions follows trends exemplified by systems fielded by United States Armed Forces, Russian Ground Forces, and partnerships with manufacturers linked to DRDO programs.
Training centers and institutions include the Indian Military Academy, the School of Artillery (Deolali), and staff colleges such as the Defence Services Staff College. Courses train officers and gunners in ballistics, target acquisition, and coordination with branches like the Army Aviation Corps (India) and Border Roads Organisation. Historical training lineage connects to colonial schools and to exchanges with foreign academies such as Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and training collaborations with United States Army establishments. Research and development is conducted in conjunction with organizations like Defence Research and Development Organisation and ordnance factories under Ordnance Factories Board structures.
Artillery units have been employed in conventional wars including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and the decisive Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in which regiments operated in Eastern Command (India) sectors. High-altitude combat occurred during the Sino-Indian War and border standoffs along the Line of Control (India–Pakistan), while the Kargil War saw intensive use of mortar, gun and rocket fires coordinated with strikes by the Indian Air Force. Peacekeeping deployments under United Nations missions have included artillery detachments and observers in theaters like Sierra Leone and Liberia. Counterinsurgency operations in North East India and Jammu and Kashmir have adapted artillery for precision and area-denial roles with strict rules of engagement.
Modernization programs focus on network-centric warfare, precision munitions, indigenous production through projects such as Make in India, and acquisitions including the K-9 Vajra and upgrades to the Bofors fleet. Collaborative programs with agencies like DRDO, procurement from partners including Russia, France, and Israel aim to field systems similar to CAESAR and modern MRLs, while advances in surveillance from UAVs like Searcher and radars from firms akin to BEL enhance situational awareness. Future priorities include automation, digitization via systems interoperable with Integrated Battle Group concepts, and development of long-range precision strike capabilities informed by global practices in People's Liberation Army Ground Force modernization and NATO doctrines.
Category:Artillery units and formations of India