Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro Limited for procurement of 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T Self-Propelled Tracked Artillery Guns.
MoD Inks Rs 7,629 Crore contract with L&T for K9 VAJRA
Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro Limited for procurement of 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T Self-Propelled Tracked Artillery Guns for the Indian Army under Buy (Indian) category at a total cost of Rs 7,628.70 crore. The procurement of K9 VAJRA-T will catalyse the artillery modernisation and enhance overall operational readiness of the Indian Army.
The army has so far inducted 100 such guns under a 2017 contract worth $720 million, and several of them have been deployed in the Ladakh sector after carrying out upgrades to enable operations in mountains.
The tank is expected to be ready for induction into service in 2027, strengthening the army’s posture against the Chinese forces along the contested Line of Actual Control. The new artillery systems will feature upgrades for high-altitude deployment, ensuring India’s readiness to counter challenges in regions like Ladakh, where temperatures can decrease to -20°C.
The range of these artillery guns is over 40 km, and they can launch projectiles at a speed of around 65 kilometres per hour. The artillery guns should be operated by five personnel and can carry upto 49 rounds onboard. It is enhanced to function effectively in freezing conditions.
This deployment underlines India’s shift to focus its artillery strength against potential threats from China, complementing other advanced systems like Dhanush and the ultra-light M777 howitzers already stationed in the area. The K9 Vajra is a product of Larsen and Toubro (L&T), manufactured at its Hazira plant in Gujarat and has over 18,000 components from Indian suppliers.
Larsen & Toubro Limited
Larsen & Toubro Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate, with interests in industrial technology, heavy industry, engineering, construction, manufacturing, power, information technology, military and financial services. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. L&T was founded in 1938 in Bombay by Danish engineers Henning Holck-Larsen and Søren Kristian Toubro.
