Recently, the defence minister flagged off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat.
Key Points
The K9 VAJRA-T 155mm/ 52 is a tracked self-propelled howitzer (a short gun for firing shells on high trajectories at low velocities), which has its roots in the K9 Thunder, the mainstay of the South Korean Army.
It offers a high rate of fire at long-range and is compatible with Indian and standard North Atlantic Treaty Organisation(NATO) ammunition.
The K9 Thunder platform is made of all-welded steel armour protection material.
The K9 gun has been developed under the 'Buy Global’ programme of the Defence Procurement Procedure(DPP) where foreign companies are allowed to participate.
In this case, Hanwha Techwin of South Korea is the technology partner of L&T.
The first 10 K9 Vajra guns have been imported from South Korea and assembled by L&T in India. The balance 90 guns will be largely manufactured in the country.
L&T Defence is currently executing the ‘K9 VAJRA-T’ Tracked, Self-Propelled Howitzer Guns program - the contract awarded to the company by the Ministry of Defence through global competitive bidding.
