K9 Vajra Howitzer

In recent months government has awarded a Rs. 4500 crore project to L&T to produce K9 Vajra-T howitzer, a mobile artillery gun. This is largest order for military equipment to private sector in the country.

This award is important because so far only Ordinance Factory Board has produced howitzers in India in past. Also, India has not ordered any modern artillery gun since 1980s. We note here that government was on two procurement deals, second being M777 Ultra-light Howitzer from BAE system of USA. The government reportedly has awarded that contract also.

Importance

The importance of K9 Vajra is multi fold. Firstly, this 155 mm gun is an indigenised version of a Samsung mobile howitzer and can be mounted on a tracked platform, thus is very much manoeuvrable.  It can hit target at a distance of 40 kilometres. Secondly, it will be a shot in the arm for Indian army as we have been lacking artillery systems to counter with Pakistan. It is highly mobile; can move 60 kilometres per hour; can traverse 450 kilometres on its own and can be deployed in desert. Thirdly, it is a big boost to Make in India, because their production would case that India is able to produce world quality weapons at low costs. Lastly, L&T bagging this project is also important because that company won it in a global tender and no special favour was given to it for being an Indian firm.