India has awarded a contract to Larsen & Toubro for the supply of locally-produced K9 Vajra-T Artillery Platforms to the Indian Army.
The K9 Vajra-T is a 155 mm, 52-caliber tracked self-propelled artillery system co-developed by Larsen & Toubro and Hanwha Aerospace.
It is based on the South Korean K9 Thunder and customized for the Indian Army to operate in diverse terrain, including deserts, plains, and high-altitude areas.
This marks the second collaboration between Larsen & Toubro and New Delhi.
The first project, contracted in 2017, was completed in 2021 with 100 K9 Vajra-T howitzers delivered.
The new order will be produced at Larsen & Toubro’s armored vehicle facility in Hazira, in the country’s northwest region of Gujarat.
“We are focused on helping build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and making India’s defence forces self-reliant with indigenously manufactured equipment,” stated Arun Ramchandani, Senior VP and Head of Larsen & Toubro Precision Engineering & Systems.
‘Self-Reliant India’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spearheaded a campaign focusing on boosting the domestic production of goods, including the design, development, and manufacture of defense equipment.
Earlier this month, New Delhi awarded contracts to state-owned company BEML Ltd. to produce an undisclosed number of locally made 8×8 high-mobility vehicles valued at $16 million and heavy-duty trailers for an estimated cost of $9.8 million.
The Indian Navy also launched its first indigenous multipurpose vessel, Samarthak, in November at Larsen & Toubro’s Kattupalli facility on the country’s east coast.
