KSSL Showcases Mounted Artillery Gun (MArG) to European Customers at DEFEA 2025: Athens, Greece – Indian defence major Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), the defence arm of Bharat Forge, is making a significant bid for the European artillery market by showcasing its state-of-the-art Mounted Artillery Gun (MArG) 155mm self-propelled howitzers at the DEFEA 2025 international defence exhibition. The event is scheduled for May 6-8, 2025, at the Metropolitan Exhibition Center near Athens International Airport.
KSSL is showcasing its MArG series, available in both 39 and 45 caliber variants, to European nations actively seeking to modernize their mobile artillery capabilities. The move comes as lessons from the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict continue to underscore the critical need for rapid, precise, and survivable artillery systems on the contemporary battlefield.
KSSL is showcasing its Artillery Guns to European Customers at DEFEA 2025.
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MArG: A New Contender in Mobile Artillery
The MArG 155mm howitzers represent a notable advancement in artillery technology, emphasizing a potent combination of firepower, exceptional mobility, and enhanced crew survivability. A key differentiator for the MArG series is its mounting on a 4×4 high-mobility vehicle. KSSL highlights this as the world’s first 155mm system to be successfully integrated onto such a light and agile platform, a departure from heavier 6×6 or tracked chassis typically required for this caliber of weapon.
This innovative design results in a significantly reduced weight profile – 18 tons for the 39 caliber version and 23.5 tons for the newer 45 caliber model. This lighter footprint allows for rapid strategic and tactical deployment, superior maneuverability across diverse terrains including mountains and deserts, and improved “shoot and scoot” capabilities. This tactic, crucial for evading counter-battery fire and drone threats, allows the MArG to fire and relocate within a swift 90 seconds. The system can transition from movement to firing configuration (“Coming In To Action”) in 1.5 minutes during daylight and 2 minutes at night, with a similar timeframe for returning to movement (“Out of Action”).
The MArG 45, an upgrade unveiled at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi, boasts an impressive firing range exceeding 36 kilometers with conventional ammunition. It features an elevation range of -2 to +72 degrees and a traverse of 25 degrees left and right. The system can deliver an intense rate of fire of 10 rounds in 3 minutes and a sustained rate of 42 rounds over 60 minutes, carrying 18 rounds on board.
KSSL’s Boot at DEFEA 2025.
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Designed for Modern Warfare, Eyeing European Needs
KSSL officials have emphasized that the MArG series is engineered with the lessons of recent conflicts in mind, particularly the emphasis on mobility and rapid response. The systems incorporate semi-automatic loading and firing mechanisms, reducing crew workload and enhancing performance in challenging environments. A crew of just five plus a driver operates the MArG, a smaller complement than many comparable 155mm systems, which is a significant factor in minimizing personnel risk and operational costs.
Further enhancing its operational flexibility, the MArG series is equipped with independent suspension, automatic transmission, and a tire pressure regulation system, enabling effective operation across difficult terrains, including gradients up to 30 degrees. Crucially for potential European operators, the MArG is compatible with NATO-standard ammunition as well as KSSL’s in-house developed rounds, ensuring interoperability with allied forces. The system’s simplified mechanical architecture, featuring fewer moving parts, is also designed to reduce maintenance demands and enhance overall reliability – a key consideration highlighted by the logistical challenges of prolonged conflicts.
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KSSL’s Growing Global Ambitions
KSSL’s participation in DEFEA 2025 signals its serious intent to penetrate the competitive European defence market. This ambition is backed by recent export successes, including a notable $155.5 million deal with Armenia for the MArG 155mm/39 caliber howitzers in 2022. Furthermore, KSSL signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with US-based AM General at IDEX 2025 for the potential supply of its artillery cannons for the U.S. market and for co-developing next-generation artillery solutions. The company has reported a robust order book and is actively exporting various artillery systems, munitions, and mobility solutions globally.
The European focus comes at a time when many nations on the continent are reassessing and significantly increasing their defence spending and artillery capabilities. The Ukraine conflict has led to a renewed demand for self-propelled howitzers. While established systems like the German PzH 2000, French CAESAR, and South Korean K9 Thunder are prominent, KSSL aims to position the MArG as a highly mobile, cost-effective, and technologically advanced alternative, particularly for nations seeking agile solutions that can be rapidly deployed and require less logistical support.
At DEFEA 2025, the Indian-made MArG howitzers are set to draw considerable attention, potentially offering a compelling new option for European militaries navigating the evolving demands of modern warfare.
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