Indian Army Plans 300 More K9 Vajra Guns

The Indian Army is preparing a proposal for the procurement of over 300 additional K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers in June 2026. The estimated value of the programme is about ₹23,000 crore, and the proposal is expected to be placed before the Defence Procurement Board.

K9 Vajra-T: Basic Profile

The K9 Vajra-T is a 155mm/52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer. It is manufactured in India by Larsen & Toubro under a technology transfer arrangement with Hanwha Aerospace of South Korea. The gun has a range of more than 40 km.

Procurement History of K9 Vajra

The Indian Army signed its first contract for 100 K9 Vajra guns in 2017 for about ₹4,500 crore. Deliveries under that contract were completed in 2021. A second contract for another 100 guns was signed by the Ministry of Defence in December 2023 for about ₹7,600 crore.

Operational Use and Deployment Areas

The K9 Vajra is used for long-range artillery support on the western and northern fronts. The system has also undergone cold-weather trials in Ladakh, which is a high-altitude region along the Line of Actual Control with China.

Industrial and Strategic Context

If approved, the new order would take Larsen & Toubro’s cumulative K9 Vajra production mandate beyond 500 guns. The proposed procurement would be one of the largest artillery acquisitions by the Indian Army in recent decades.

Important Facts for Exams

• The K9 Vajra-T is based on the South Korean K9 Thunder platform.
• The K9 Vajra is a tracked self-propelled howitzer used for mobile artillery support.
• The Defence Procurement Board is a key body in India’s defence acquisition process.
• The Line of Actual Control is the de facto boundary between India and China in several sectors.

Artillery in Indian Defence

Artillery systems are classified by calibre, mobility, and firing range. Self-propelled howitzers combine gun power with tracked mobility and are used for rapid deployment in varied terrain.