The India Army is set to augment its firepower with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in its meeting held on Thursday, clearing a proposal to buy 100 more K-9 self-propelled howitzer guns from the L&T.
The acquisition of 100 155-mm, 52-calibre self-propelled howitzer guns through a repeat order to the L&T is already delayed probably due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Indian Army had initiated the procurement process more than a year ago, but the CCS cleared it on Thursday, sources stated.
Though the worth of contract was not divulged, the value of the 100 guns would be more than ₹4500 crore to meet inflation and other adjustments made in the gun, sources aware of developments stated.
On November 18, businessline reported that the CCS was going to clear the gun deal soon to scale up the Indian Army’s capacity.
These guns have already been deployed at high-altitudes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and even in the desert, which is also spread towards the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
The K-9 Vajras, which have shown utility in extreme heat and extreme cold conditions, are being manufactured at the Armoured Systems Complex of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) in Hazira, Gujarat.
The L&T got transfer of technology from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense for manufacturing of K-9 Vajras. The L&T has indigenised substantial components of the gun in its effort to add to the aatmanirbharta in defence sector.
A K-9 Vajra gun weighs 50 tonnes and can fire shells to over 50 kilometers.
Light Tank trial
Meanwhile, another product of L&T, Zorawar light tank, has achieved a milestone in trial by firing a number of rounds at different ranges at an altitude of more than 4200m, the DRDO said on Thursday.
The firing by Zorawar at a high-altitude location delivered ‘consistently accurate results’, stated the DRDO.
“This was subsequent to the Phase I trial in the desert environment in September 2024. This light tank has been defined, designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, the Chennai-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) against the Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements of Indian Army,” said the state-owned R&D lab.
The idea to manufacture a light tank came up during the Galwan face-off with China in May 2020, when the Indian Army’s conventional tanks which are heavier could not climb in high-altitude. On the other hand, the mobility of Chinese tanks was swift which prompted India to look for the light tanks.
Zorawar has been designed as a 25-ton class armoured fighting vehicle to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces for high-altitude applications in a short span of three years.