The Artillery is not a dashing and flamboyant arm like the armour nor does it work eyeball to eyeball with the enemy like the infantry. The Artillery works quietly from a respectable distance and saturates the battlefield with firepower - which is its main contribution to battle. Present day artillery covers a large range of weapons like guns, howitzers, mortars and rockets - some of these weapons have organic and auxiliary power units (APUs) for quick displacement.

Artillery is essentially a neutralisation weapon - though some Indian experts in the Indian Artillery Schools (field) Deolali, feel that modern artillery can be equally effective as a destructive weapon for the engagement of hardened and pin-point targets. Pakistan artillery apparently has no such claims as this claim besides other things would need an amendment in the Artillery Training Pamphlets. The concept, however, needs a detailed examination as the Pakistan Artillery presently possesses some of the weapons which are best in the world for the engagement of pin-point targets.

One only has to see some of the new artillery products and their ammunition especially by Bofors and others to get a glimpse of the future artillery trends and the technology involved in their production and use. This short presentation brings out some of the modern/futuristic trends in artillery weapons and ammunition.

At the very outset I must spell out the trends in artillery during the 1970s and 1980s. These were:

- Increased mobility due to the incorporation of auxiliary propulsion units (APUs), on the guns or the equipping of guns with organic propulsion, i.e., self-propulsion (SP) mode.

- Increased range with 'base-bleed' shells and increased muzzle energy.

- Increased fire power via multiple warhead technique and rocket artillery.

- Increased lethal and other effects at the target end due to more efficient ammunition.

Artillery development has not stagnated since the end of World War II and considerable development has taken place in the equipment side. A comparison of the performance of 155 MM Artillery of Post WW II period and the next generation of the same equipment is something like this:

So we can see the performance difference which will be brought about with slender ammunition - (which has minimum base drag - and air resistance retardation effect) and due to greater muzzle velocity and increase in barrel length.

Although it was the Soviets who first used the rocket artillery in WW II, this mode of artillery fires is getting quiet fashionable these days (in spite of its weapon dispersion and inadequate war-head technology). In terms of target area saturation rocket artillery appears to have an edge (density wise) over conventional artillery.

The NATO forces have inducted one of the most effective Rocket system in the world. Officially known as Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), the system has a calibre of 227 mm, and the weight of the rocket used therein is 308 Kg. This basic load consists of 644 small bomblets (the same as the 155mm Cargo ammo M483). These bomblets may have limited effect against really hard targets - all the same their range is about 30 Km or so.

The fire power quantitatively of a NATO division will be impressive. The division as such has 9 Launchers - with each firing 12 rockets (each with 644 bomblets) per minute. The delivery of bomblets per minute at the target comes to 9 x 12 x 644 or 69552 bomblets which amounts to almost 1 bomblet per m2 over an area of 300x300 metres (as occupied by a division). This may appear to be overkill but such a density is almost essential against hard targets like armour or other well protected targets.

The trend, however, is to have a mixture of rockets and barrelled artillery. Rocket artillery which has its roots in multiple warhead technology is likely to be further developed towards target seeking warheads to eliminate its present day dispersion. The environment parameters of such a warhead will be favourable for the rocket as a carrier.

Some stunning developments are likely to occur in the development of ammunition. It is generally considered that the FH 77-B Bofor 155mm (400 of which are presently held by India) - and which presently uses propellant charge of approximately 13 Kg will now need a charge weight of 19 Kg to achieve a range of 40 Km. Some of the more sophisticated propellants that may become usable in field artillery systems in future could be:

- The modular propellant charges (combustible). These may be operational within 10 to 20 years time.

- Liquid propellants may be in vogue by the year 2010 or so.

- It is hoped that the next generation of propellants will be more insensitive than the present powders - and by about 10 years time LOVA - powder will be available which has a high ignition temperature and which does not burn at atmospheric pressures.

The next important development will be in the projectiles. As always, it will be governed by the threat scenario - and technical developments. There should be no doubt that the number of armoured vehicles will increase in the future battle field i.e., the targets to be dealt by the artillery will become harder and harder. Consequently, to be effective against such targets, the artillery shall will have to be a carrier shell rather than the conventional ground burst shell presently in vogue with most of the armies. In fact, this type, i.e., the HE (High Explosive) shells have least potential for future development in view of the changing battle field scenario.

Some improvement in the HE shell can be effected by the base bleed technology which increases range considerably - but this may be at the expense of HE content. The Bofors HEER (High Explosive Extra Range) shell is one of the examples in which a slim shell is used. Even the fillings of the future shell may be PBX and not TNT and that may be used probably after 1995 or so.

As indicated before, the possibilities of the cargo shell will be exploited to the maximum and this shell may have bomblets, mines, illuminating/smoke cannisters - and sensor modules incorporated in it.

Yet there are more sophisticated projectiles such as the Smart ammunition - which is sensor equipped and which can identify armoured vehicles. Its warhead consists of EFP (Explosively Formed Projectile) with an effect over a distance of more than 100 metres. The US artillery has developed such ammunition for 203 and 155 mm calibres and call it SADARM (Sense & Destroy Armour). Still more sophisticated projectiles known as the Intelligent Ammunition are also being developed - which, in fact, terminally guided projectiles ( a motorless missile). This shell is inactive in a ballistic trajectory, and is activated in a target seeking phase at the end of the trajectory, acquires the target, homes on to it and finally initiates the warhead when it hits the target.

At the cost of some repetition and due to some security constraints - it is not possible for me to provide the entire artillery orbit here - suffice it to say that adequate artillery fire support can be provided to all the formations - to which adequate artillery support is organic and on call. I should say there was some shortages which had come out during the large Ex 'Zarbe-Momin' - but I find that these are being made up. One sector which was weak was the SP Medium which now is perhaps the only sector in which we are even better than India - and India is much scared of Pakistani (US Provided) Medium guns. We might as well induct more of Multiple Rockets Launchers for area saturation tactical tasks. Such pieces were found extremely useful by the Americans and the Allies during the 1991 - Gulf War.

A brief summary of holding of weapons i.e., artillery assets of India and Pakistan as per Military Balance 1996-97 is as below:

Finally it is indeed encouraging and confidence giving that the Pakistan Artillery is a potent arm and possesses all such support assets which can provide timely and effective support to the supported arms at all times. The artillery as I have said earlier is somewhat self effacing arm - but a time has come when I should assert itself and demand the same place amongst the fighting arms as armour or infantry.

Of late the Indian artillery is poised for this place and surely during the 1991 Gulf War - SP artillery and Multiple Rocket Launchers played havoc with the Iraqis - and later there was hardly anything left to be fought for - and the Allied Armour was able to make massive encircling movements and thus make Iraqi positions untenable. The present artillery technique i.e., resection from satellites and target acquisition with UAVs makes engagements a real pleasure. It can be quick and lethal - and surely accurate and cost effective in ammunition. The Pakistan artillery is fast getting acquainted with these modern technologies.