Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Larsen & Toubro's Hazira plant in Surat on Friday, marking his first visit to the facility since 2019. The plant has emerged as a critical hub for national defence production, showcasing India's push towards self-reliance in military manufacturing.
Strategic Importance of Hazira Plant
The L&T Hazira facility is an advanced industrial complex specializing in defence and heavy engineering projects. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also visited the plant in January 2020. During both visits, the K-9 Thunder artillery system was demonstrated to the dignitaries.
As the largest private manufacturer of tracked armoured vehicles in India, the Hazira plant has delivered 100 K-9 Vajra tracked medium artillery guns to the Indian Army. These guns have been deployed in high-altitude regions of Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control. The government has cleared an additional order of 100 more such guns.
Zorawar Light Tank Development
The facility gained national attention with the rollout of the first Zorawar light tank from the AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex. Designed and developed in a record 19 months, the Zorawar is intended for high-altitude warfare in the Himalayas and is currently undergoing trials.
Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle Program
L&T is also developing its entry for the Indian Army's Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) program, which aims to replace the aging BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles. During Modi's 2019 visit, prototypes of L&T's FICV design were showcased. Competitors include Tata, Mahindra Defence, Bharat Forge, and Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited.
If L&T secures larger orders for the Zorawar light tank and its FICV program is selected, the Hazira plant could become one of India's most important defence production centres, significantly contributing to the nation's military capabilities.
