According to media reports, the Indian Army has modified the 105 mm Indian Field Gun with an automatic gun-laying system. Earlier, the gun had to be laid on target through manual dial-based adjustments. The reported upgrade allows the gun to be aimed through a computerised system, helping the crew calculate firing solutions and make faster aiming corrections.

This may sound like a technical change, but for the soldier on the gun line, it can mean something very practical: less manual delay, faster response and better consistency in engaging targets.

The 105 mm Indian Field Gun is not a new weapon. It has been part of the Indian artillery ecosystem for decades. The gun has served in different roles and remains familiar to generations of Indian gunners. The important point is that instead of treating old systems as useless, the Army appears to be adding a modern digital layer to improve battlefield performance.

That is the real story.

Why this upgrade matters?

Artillery is often called the arm of firepower. Before infantry moves, artillery can soften enemy positions. During a battle, artillery can support troops, suppress enemy movement and shape the battlefield. In difficult terrain, timely artillery fire can give confidence to soldiers moving forward.

But artillery does not work only by pulling a trigger. It requires target location, firing data, gun positioning, elevation, bearing, corrections and coordination. Traditionally, many of these steps involved manual calculations, trained procedures and physical adjustments. Experienced gunners can do this with skill, but modern warfare demands faster engagement and quicker switching between targets.

That is where automatic gun laying becomes important.

A computer-assisted system can help reduce the time taken to lay the gun on target. It can support the crew in calculating firing solutions and making aiming adjustments. This does not remove the gunner from the process. It gives the crew better support.

In simple terms, the gun remains old, but the way it is aimed becomes smarter.

What changes for the artillery crew?

For an artillery crew, every second matters. If a target appears briefly, delayed response can reduce effectiveness. If the fire mission changes quickly, the crew must adjust fast. If multiple guns are firing together, consistency becomes important.

With automatic aiming support, the crew may be able to lay the gun faster and with improved accuracy. The system can reduce dependence on manual dial turning and help convert firing data into gun movement more efficiently.

This is especially important because modern artillery battles are becoming faster. Drones, surveillance systems, counter-battery radars and precision targeting have changed the rhythm of warfare. Guns must fire, shift and survive. A slow system can become vulnerable.

So even a legacy gun can remain relevant if its speed, data handling and targeting process are improved.

Old gun, new battlefield

The 105 mm Indian Field Gun has its own limitations. It cannot become a 155 mm howitzer simply because a computerised aiming system is added. Its calibre, range and shell weight remain those of a 105 mm field gun. Bharat Rakshak’s background profile lists the 105 mm IFG as a 105 mm artillery system with a maximum range of around 17,200 metres and a normal rate of fire of four rounds per minute.

This is why the upgrade should not be exaggerated. It is not a magical transformation of the weapon. It is a practical improvement in the laying and aiming process.

But such improvements matter.

Many armies across the world continue to upgrade older platforms instead of replacing everything at once. A vehicle may get better communication. A gun may get modern sights. A rifle may get better optics. A command post may get digital mapping. These upgrades extend usefulness and reduce the gap between old hardware and new battlefield requirements.

For India, where the Army has large inventories and diverse terrain commitments, such upgrades can be valuable.

How it fits into Indian artillery modernisation?

The Indian Army has been modernising its artillery arm through systems such as the K-9 Vajra, M-777 ultra-light howitzer, Dhanush, and other 155 mm platforms. The Times of India report notes that modern systems like the FH-77B Bofors, K-9 Vajra and M-777 already use comput.er-based laying or targeting support. The reported upgrade aims to bring the 105 mm IFG closer to that modern operating environment.

This is important because artillery modernisation is not only about new guns. It is also about creating a common culture of faster data use, better fire control and quicker execution.

If older 105 mm guns can be digitally assisted, they may remain useful in certain roles while the Army continues its broader shift towards heavier and longer-range artillery. The gun may not be the newest system in the inventory, but with improved laying capability, it can still support training, operational roles and specific battlefield needs.