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K9 Vajra-T
Context:
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Rs 7,628.70 crore (Rs 76.28 billion) contract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the procurement of 100 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled tracked artillery guns for the Indian Army.
According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, 88% of capital acquisition contracts (for defence equipment) signed between FY20 to FY24 and FY25 (up to September 2024) were with Indian vendors.
Key Highlights:
- This procurement is part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative and falls under the ‘Buy (Indian)’ category.
- The contract will result in the procurement of 100 K9 Vajra-T guns, which will form five regiments.
- The new batch of guns will enhance the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities, improving firepower, precision strikes, and operational readiness.
About:
- The K9 Vajra-T is an advanced variant of the K9 Thunder, a state-of-the-art 155 mm/52 calibre Self-Propelled Tracked Artillery Gun developed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Defence.
- Capabilities:
- Versatile and mobile: The K9 Vajra is described as a versatile artillery gun with cross-country mobility, able to operate across varied terrains.
- High firepower: The gun is capable of long-range precision strikes, delivering lethal fire with high accuracy and a higher rate of fire.
- Extreme conditions: The K9 Vajra can operate in sub-zero temperatures and high-altitude areas.
- This makes them a critical addition to India’s defence arsenal, particularly for deployment along the strategically sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Impact:
- Enhanced Firepower: The K9 Vajra will significantly boost the Indian Army’s strike capabilities in all terrains.
- Employment Generation: The project is expected to generate over nine lakh man-days of employment over four years, involving active participation from Indian industries, including MSMEs.
