Independence Day: Domestic howitzer cannon will be used for the first time for 21 gun salute

The domestic howitzer cannon will be used for the first time for the ceremonial 21-gun salute during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar gave this information on Wednesday. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) has been developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under the government's 'Make in India' initiative. Kumar said the ATAGS would formally launch a 21-gun salute with the British guns being used so far. The Defense Ministry said the initiative to use guns will be beneficial to India's growing ability to develop arms and ammunition indigenously.

This cannon has been specially adapted, changing some technical specifications for the function. The ministry said a team from DRDO's Ordnance Research and Development Establishment Pune led by scientists and artillery officials worked on the project to make the use of cannon possible for Independence Day celebrations. The ATAGS project was initiated in 2013 by DRDO to replace the old guns in the Indian Army with modern 155 mm artillery guns. This special gun system is compatible with the Indian Army's C4E (C4I) systems for technical fire control, fire planning, deployment management, and operational logistics management such as the Artillery Combat Command and Control System named Shakti.

Defense Secretary also said that NCC cadets from all districts of the country have been invited to participate in the main event at Red Fort. These cadets will be seated on the Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort ramparts in the geographical form of the map of India. Kumar said that the cadets would display local costumes symbolizing the cultural diversity of India to carry forward the message of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. In line with the initiatives taken during Republic Day 2022, that section of the society, which is usually overlooked, has also been invited as a special guest for the Independence Day. Kumar said that these include Anganwadi workers, street vendors, debtors of Mudra Yojana, morgue workers etc. He has been invited to attend the main event at the Red Fort.

Kumar said a total of 26 officers and observers and 127 cadets from 14 countries – US, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Fiji, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles, UAE and Uzbekistan have already attended the Independence Day celebrations. Only in India. Apart from attending the main event at Red Fort, these youths will also visit places of cultural and historical importance in Delhi and Agra.