A huge contract to acquire K9 Vajra artillery guns, costing ₹7,628 crore, has been finalised by the Defence Ministry with Larsen & Toubro Ltd, an important move aimed at providing a considerable boost to the Indian Army’s strike capability.
The K9 Vajra has been fitted with cutting-edge technology for striking faraway targets with extreme precision. About 100 of these artillery guns would be put into service along the LAC, as media reports stated.
An official statement said, “The defence ministry signed a contract for the 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T Self-Propelled Tracked Artillery Guns for the Indian Army under the Buy (Indian) category, totaling ₹7,628.70 crore.”
The acquisition will accelerate the modernization of artillery, besides enhancing the overall operational preparedness of the Indian Army. The versatile K9 Vajra gun, recognized for its cross-country mobility, will contribute immensely towards the army’s firepower, helping it to undertake deeper strikes with high precision in all terrains.
Notably, the K9 Vajra can function in sub-zero temperatures and hence can give full functionality in high-altitude areas. Besides, the project is also expected to create more than nine lakh man-days of employment over four years, further leading to active participation from various Indian industries, including MSMEs.
The project stands out as a manifestation of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ under the ‘Make-in-India’ campaign and underlines commitment to self-reliance in defense procurement.
