The Indian Army is preparing to place one of its largest artillery modernisation orders, with plans to procure 300 more K9 Vajra self-propelled tracked artillery guns under a proposed Rs 23,000 crore programme.
Current Inventory and Future Plans
According to defence sources, the Army currently operates 100 K9 Vajra T guns, with an additional 100 already ordered under a 2024 contract. The proposed 300 guns will be in addition to the 200 already procured or ordered. The proposal is expected to be presented to the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) this week.
Deployment and Manufacturing
Self-propelled gun systems offer high mobility and can be deployed anywhere. They have been stationed along the northern border and in certain areas along the western border. The new guns will be manufactured following the same specifications as earlier orders. Production is likely to take place at Larsen & Toubro's Hazira facility in Gujarat, which was recently visited by Prime Minister Modi.
Technical Specifications of K9 Vajra-T
The K9 Vajra-T is a 155-mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer designed for deep-fire support, high battlefield mobility, and excellent protection. It is built for rapid deployment, high-altitude operations, and shoot-and-scoot tactics. Key features include:
- Firing range of up to 40 km with standard ammunition and up to 50 km with extended-range projectiles
- Rate of fire: 6 to 8 rounds per minute in burst mode
- Maximum speed of 67 km/h
- Operational range of 360 to 450 km on a single tank of fuel
Indigenous Production and Collaboration
The K9 Vajra-T is a customised version of the South Korean K9 Thunder, recognised as the world's most exported self-propelled howitzer. It was initially built for the Indian Army by Larsen & Toubro under the Make-in-India initiative, in collaboration with South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace.
Previous Contracts
The Indian Army signed its first contract for the K9 Vajra-T in May 2017, valued at Rs 4,500 crore for 100 units. In 2024, the defence ministry signed another contract worth Rs 7,629 crore with L&T for an additional 100 guns.
Deepening Indo-South Korean Cooperation
During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit to Seoul, India and South Korea signed key memorandums of understanding to strengthen cooperation on the K9 Vajra artillery programme.
