The Future of Artillery in 21st Century Warfare

Abstract

The article visualises the future of Artillery in the 21st century. It brings out the requirement of Artillery in the nine conflicts till date
in the 21st Century. It is observed that Artillery is required to perform three primary tasks: First, Surveillance and Target Acquisition; second, engagement of targets; and third, post-strike damage assessment. The future battlespace would be non-linear with the need for simultaneous engagement in the close, intermediate, and depth areas. Based on these aspects, one arrives at the future profile of Artillery and the equipment needed for the task. This results in the type of regiments and their equipment in the Indian context. The Surveillance and Target Acquisition (SATA) Regiments, Gun Regiments, Mortar Regiments, Rocket Regiments, and BrahMos supersonic Cruise Missile Regiments would compose the future set up of Artillery. In view of this, the paper will discuss, ammunition, the weapon of the Artillery; and the aspects of Precision Guided Munitions, Loitering Munitions as also the Long Range ammunition being developed by BAE System, and Lockheed Martin.