K9 VAJRA-T 155mm/ 52 Cal Tracked Self Propelled (SP) Gun

The K9 VAJRA-T 155mm/ 52 Cal. Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer meets the requirements of 21st century warfare, which is based on the following missions: Deep fire support with its longer firing range; qualitative superiority to overcome a numerical inferiority with its higher rate of fire and accuracy and effective and reliable fire support in all kinds of circumstances with its higher mobility and protection.

The vajra (Sanskrit: meaning thunderbolt and diamond) is a ornamental symbol that appears again and again in Indian, Buddhist, and Jainism mythology to represent the unyielding power of spirit. The origin of the vajra comes from the Vedas, where the king of the gods, Indra, uses it as a weapon to kill asuras (demons). It is called “Dorje” in Tibetan, It also represents a firmness of spirit and spiritual power, being one of the important sacred tools and ritual implement in Vajrayana Buddhism, Hinduism and Tantra where it symbolizes the male principle of creation and represents both method and “Upaya” (means “skillful” ) in religious practice.

The K9 VAJRA-T is a variant of K9 Thunder which is inarguably the world's best 155mm/52 Cal.SPH in terms of number of systems in active service. Currently, K9 Thunder is serving as one of the main conventional deterrent forces for a number of armies including the Korean Army. K9 Thunder has established its superiority through demonstrations and evaluation tests at various proving grounds in extreme weather conditions, jungles, barren deserts and severely cold areas. By demonstrating its ability to handle Indian as well as all NATO standard ammunitions, K9 VAJRA-T has proven its excellent conformability to any field artillery unit.

By the end of May 2018, the Indian army received a first batch of 25 K9 Vajra-T 155mm self-propelled howitzers. Indian Army due to uncertainty in ‘Bhim’ howitzer project went for International tender and now is in the process to place orders for K9 Vajra-T, the 155-mm/52-caliber selfpropelled howitzer artillery gun co-developed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Samsung Techwin. Indian Army plans to procure 100 K9 Vajra-T likely to be followed up with the purchase of additional 50 more K9 Vajra-T at a later stage but Army requirement might be for over 500 such howitzer artillery gun which might have prompted DRDO to bring the focus back to BHIM Project.

Larsen & Toubro is one of India's leading companies for supply of Defence Equipment and Systems in the private sector, with over 30 years of experience in this field. We provide indigenous, design-to-delivery solutions across the defence spectrum – from land-based weapon launch systems, air defence and artillery systems and upgrades, to naval weapon launch systems with fire control solutions, bridging systems, communication, avionics, C4I and missile systems.

L&T Heavy Engineering business is organised under self-reliant Strategic Business Units (SBUs) catering to the needs of core sector industries through supply of equipment to Process Plant Industries, and the Nuclear Power, Defence & Aerospace sector. The division operates at the upper end of the technology spectrum and has been at the forefront of introducing new processes, products and materials into manufacturing sector, for over six decades.

L&T has been at the forefront in providing high-end technology solutions for land-based forces. L&T's weapon systems such as Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers, 155mm/52 Cal artillery guns – both towed and self-propelled and missile launchers enable land-based forces to deliver the right kind of ammunition at the right time with precision.

These will be the first howitzers to be inducted in the Army after the procurement of controversial Bofors 155mm guns nearly three decades ago. Four companies, including the Tatas, the OFB and the BEML, bid for the RFP (request for proposal) issued in January 2011. Along with L&T's K9 Vajra-T, an upgraded version of OFB's Russian MSTA-S SP gun participated in the field evaluation trial held from March to August 2013 at the Pokharan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 January 2019 dedicated to the nation L&T Armoured Systems Complex at Hazira in Gujarat. It will produce 100 Howitzer artillery guns, christened “K9 Vajra-T” under the Make in India program. L&T Armoured Systems Complex was set up bythe company at its Hazira facility to manufacture the howitzer guns. It is around 30 kilometres from Surat. It will supply 100 units of K9 Vajra-T 155mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer gun systems to the Indian army. It is the first such facility in the private sector in India. K9 Vajra-T is a variant of South-Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer. It has been modified for the Indian conditions to meet requirements of army, including operations in desert. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the L&T are in talks with each other to possibly convert the Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer into a light or medium-weight tank that could be used in mountain regions like Ladakh.

Larsen and Toubro (L&T) on 25 February 2021 successfully completed delivery of the last and 100th K9 Vajra 155mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer, which was flagged off by Army Chief General M.M. Naravane at Hazira near Surat in Gujarat. With the company delivering ahead of schedule the massive Armoured Systems Complex (ASC) at Hazira, which has its own track, it is likely to go into hibernation mode with no new contract expected in the immediate future.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the L&T are in talks with each other to possibly convert the Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer into a light or medium-weight tank that could be used in mountain regions like Ladakh. The idea is to replace the heavy 155 mm gun with a 105 mm or 120 mm gun. which will reduce its weight drastically as the design of the turret also changes. More weight reducing technology and material can be used, which will bring down the weight by at least 10 tonnes. This means that the Vajra tank can actually weigh around 30 tonnes or somewhere close, which can be deployed in the mountains.