India’s Ramjet Artillery Shells Boost Range

Context

India is about to make a big breakthrough in military technology by making it the first country in the world to have a functionally operational deployment of ramjet-powered 155 mm artillery shells. It is an invention based on the Atmanirbhar Bharat program, which in collaboration with the IIT Madras has radically increased the distance of conventional artillery by 45 km on average to a possible 80 km or even higher, essentially creating a new battlefield range and strategic capabilities.

Redefining Battlefield Reach: India’s Ramjet Artillery Breakthrough

• Introduction: Traditional artillery systems (like ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) of India or the M777 ultra-light howitzer) usually have ranges of 30-45 km (even with rocket assisted or base-bleed ammunition). The capability to deliver deeper penetration targets and at the same time, remain beyond the range of the enemy retaliation is a highly valuable military capability in the dynamic security landscape, especially at the borders of India and China (and Pakistan). This is the requirement that the ramjet artillery project aims to meet in order to overcome the gap between conventional tube artillery and costly systems of missiles.
• Understanding Ramjet Technology: The essence of this development is to fit the ramjet propulsion (which is normally used in missiles) to artillery shells.

How a Ramjet Engine Works

Unlike traditional rockets which carry both fuel and an oxidizer, a ramjet is an air-breathing engine with no moving parts.

• First Boost: The shell is launched by a regular 155 mm gun, launching it to supersonic velocity, around 2 3 Mach.
• Air Compression: This is because under high velocity the incoming air is naturally compressed through the intake of the engine (ram compression), and thereby the engine does not need complicated mechanical compressors.
• Sustained Thrust: The compressed air is sprayed with fuel which in turn is ignited resulting in hot gases blasting out of the nozzle which causes constant thrust that propels the shell far beyond the distance of a normal shell, which merely glides.
• Key Technical Advantages
  • • Greater Specific Impulse (ISP): Ramjets have a higher ISP of above 4000 Ns/kg as compared to solid rockets which have an ISP of about 2500 Ns/kg, i.e. they provide higher propulsion with the same mass of propellant.
    • Greater Range: This longer propulsion range increases the range by 30-50 percent, extending the range to 80 km and possibly even higher in subsequent versions.

Strategic Implications and Battlefield Impact

The strategic benefits of the operational establishment of ramjet shells are a number of benefits to the defence position of India.

• Deep Strike Capability: The increased range will allow Indian forces to attack high-value enemy targets using the missile system like command centers, logistics bases and airfields deep behind enemy front lines, previously accessible only to more expensive missile systems.
• Counter-Battery Advantage: Indian artillery units have the ability to make and counter the enemy gun positions even at a distance beyond the range of the enemy to achieve a greater survival rate of Indian assets.
• Accuracy and Rapidity: These shells should work with a Precision Guidance Kit based on the NavIC satellite system of India (with backup of GPS) and the margin of error will be decreased to only a few meters. They also move at Mach 3 speeds which makes them hard to be intercepted by enemy air defenses.
• Affordability and Interoperability: The interchangeable design of the ramjet is a modular/plug-and-play design, which means that the modules can later be retrofitted to all of the current artillery systems in India, such as the M777, ATAGS, Dhanush, and K9 Vajra. This eliminates the necessity of completely innovating weapon systems, and this would be economical and could be deployed within a short period of time and in a variety of terrains even in the high Himalayas.

The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Imperative

This is a bright example of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) program; this indigenous work by the Indian Army through the partnership of the academia (IIT Madras). It creates a strong domestic defence industrial base, lessens dependence on imports, and makes India a prospective worldwide seller of state-of-the-art defence gear. The successful tests of Pokhran field firing ranges are the milestone in the defence innovation of the natives.

Conclusion

The oddest world is that the latest invention of ramjet artillery shells in India is not just a technological advancement but also a strategic game changer. The Indian Army is gaining an effective weapon that will boost Indian deterrence, increase flexibility on the battlefield, and secure India as the center of military modernization on the world stage by expanding the capabilities of its traditional artillery considerably in terms of range and accuracy.

Source: TOI

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. With reference to the ‘Ramjet-powered artillery shells’, recently in the news, consider the following statements:

1. These shells carry their own oxidizer for combustion, similar to conventional rocket propulsion systems.
2. The technology allows for a significant increase in the range of existing artillery guns (up to 80-120 km) without requiring entirely new gun systems.
3. India is set to become the world’s first country to operationally deploy this technology in 155 mm artillery guns. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3

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