India approves purchase of 300+ K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers for border defence

The Indian Ministry of Defence has granted in-principle clearance for the acquisition of more than 300 K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers, with an estimated price tag exceeding ₹20,000 crore. This move will raise the Army’s total inventory to 500 guns, enough for 25 regiments of 20 pieces each, strengthening firepower along the borders with China and Pakistan. L&T, operating its Hazira plant in Gujarat, will manufacture the guns under a joint venture with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, a partnership that already delivered 100 units in 2017 and another 100 in December 2024.

The Vajra-T, a 155 mm tracked howitzer, was originally built for desert operations but proved effective in high-altitude trials in Ladakh after the 2020 border clash. The new contract targets over 70 % local content, with Indian-made fire-control, communications, hull, turret and protection systems, while the barrel and breech continue to be sourced from South Korea. The procurement is part of a broader artillery modernisation programme aimed at enhancing mobility and survivability against counter-battery threats.