Indian-made 155 mm artillery shell covers Munitions India Limited’s 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition family, including base-bleed and boat-tail variants. Official product pages identify MIL as manufacturer and describe the shells as long-range artillery ammunition for ground targets, while Reuters-derived reporting and later defense coverage document Indian-made 155 mm shells reaching Ukrainian service during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Reuters reporting in September 2024 said Indian artillery shells, including exported 155 mm shells, had reached Ukraine through European intermediaries; Army Recognition later reported Ukrainian use of Indian-made shells with Bohdana howitzers, while India denied direct transfer or export to Ukraine.
Role detailsOfficial Indian product listings and MIL brochure material present this entry as a 155 mm ERFB shell family with base-bleed and boat-tail members. The ammunition-family wording separates product identity from any conflict-specific sourcing question.
| Designation | Configuration | Source-backed context |
|---|---|---|
| HE M1A4 ERFB/BB | Base bleed | DDP lists the 155 mm ERFB BB as a Munitions India Limited product for long-range artillery fire against ground targets; MIL brochure material names the M1A4 ERFB/BB designation. |
| HE M1A4 ERFB/BT | Boat tail | DDP lists a matching 155 mm ERFB BT product page under Munitions India Limited; MIL brochure material places the ERFB/BT shell alongside the base-bleed round. |
| 155 mm shell ammunition | Four-variant tender family | Invest India's 2022 defence-ammunition report records a Make in India Army tender for 155 mm shell ammunition in four variants at 18,942 rounds per year for 10 years. |
Munitions India Limited is the named manufacturer on Department of Defence Production product pages for the 155 mm ERFB-BB and ERFB-BT shells. DDP transfer orders also place ammunition and explosives production units, including Ammunition Factory Khadki and multiple former ordnance factories, under MIL from the 1 October 2021 corporatization date.
Public Indian product pages and brochure material present the catalog item as a 155 mm ERFB shell family with base-bleed and boat-tail members rather than as one single projectile.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| HE M1A4 ERFB/BB | High-explosive extended-range full-bore shell with base bleed | MIL brochure material and DDP product listings identify the base-bleed member of the family; the DDP page names Munitions India Limited as manufacturer and describes the product as long-range artillery ammunition. Sources: MIL 155 mm artillery ammunition brochure, DDPMoD 155 mm ERFB BB product page |
| HE M1A4 ERFB/BT | High-explosive extended-range full-bore shell with boat-tail base | MIL brochure material and DDP product listings identify the boat-tail companion to the ERFB-BB round in the same 155 mm artillery-ammunition family. Sources: MIL 155 mm artillery ammunition brochure, DDPMoD 155 mm ERFB BT product page |
Open reporting links Indian-made 155 mm shells to Bohdana platforms in Ukrainian service.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer | Army Recognition reports Ukrainian forces have employed Indian-made shells with 2S22 Bohdana platforms. |
The Ministry of Defence annual report for 2018-19 lists 155 mm ERFB BB and BT ammunition among large-calibre ammunition lines covered by Ordnance Factory quality-management review, showing the family in Indian public-sector production before MIL's 2021 corporatization.
Sources: MoD Annual Report 2018-19 ERFB BB and BT ammunition
Department of Defence Production transfer orders assigned ammunition and explosives production units, including Ammunition Factory Khadki and several ordnance factories, to Munitions India Limited from the 1 October 2021 appointed date.
Sources: DDP OFB unit transfer order Munitions India Limited
Invest India’s 2022 knowledge report records a Make in India Army tender for 155 mm shell ammunition in four variants at 18,942 rounds per year for 10 years.
Sources: Invest India 2022 155 mm ammunition tender report
Reuters reporting republished by RFE/RL said Indian artillery shells had been diverted by European customers to Ukraine, while Ukrainska Pravda's Reuters summary said the exported ammunition included 155 mm shells.
Sources: Reuters Indian ammunition enters Ukraine report, Ukrainska Pravda Reuters Indian shells summary
The Ministry of Defence says ATAGS (155 mm/52 caliber) is designed to meet higher ranges using in-service ERFB-BB shell.
Sources: MoD Annual Report 2024-25 ATAGS ERFB-BB shell
