India Awards $900M Contract to L&T for K9 Vajra-T Howitzers

The Indian Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract worth approximately $900 million to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the supply of K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers to the Indian Army.

Under the agreement, L&T will manufacture the artillery systems at its armored plant in Hazira, Gujarat, in collaboration with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. This marks L&T's second contract for producing the K9 Vajra-T, a modified version of South Korea's K9 Thunder designed to meet India's operational needs.

The K9 Vajra-T is optimized for high-altitude operations and desert conditions, with local components integrated into its charging and fire control systems. Over 80% of the howitzer's production is handled domestically, accounting for more than half of its cost.

This latest contract follows the delivery of 100 K9 Vajra-T units under a 2017 tender, completed ahead of schedule by 2020. While the exact number of howitzers in the new order remains unspecified, local reports suggest a batch of 100 units may be involved.

Globally, the K9 Thunder series continues to gain traction. Hanwha Aerospace recently began assembling the first K9 155mm howitzers for the Australian Army, with plans for local production in Australia under a 2021 contract for 30 units. Meanwhile, there are ongoing discussions about establishing production facilities for the system in Romania.