According to information published by the "India Today" website on February 4, 2022, after the deployment of K9 155mm self-propelled howitzers in the Ladakh, the Indian army plans to deploy in Uttarakhand and the Northeastern states of India, part of the Line Actual Control (LAC) is a demarcation line that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory in the Sino-Indian border dispute.
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Indian Army K9 Vajra 155mm self-propelled howitzer at a military parade in New Delhi. (Picture source Times of India)
Following the successful deployment of the K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer in the Ladakh sector, the Indian army took the decision to deploy more K9 howitzers in the LAC (Line Actual Control) with China's central and eastern sectors.
Beginning on 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive melee, face-offs, and skirmishes at locations along the Sino-Indian border, including near the disputed Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and near the border between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region. Additional clashes also took place at locations in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector.
As of June 2021, the PRC and India continue to maintain large-scale deployments along the LAC and make preparations to sustain these forces while disengagement negotiations have made limited progress. Beginning in May 2020, the PLA launched incursions into customarily Indian-controlled territory across the border and has concentrated troops at several standoff locations along the LAC.
Citing open source information, the Chinese military has increased the deployment of artillery guns, self-propelled howitzers, and surface-to-missile units near the LAC.
Indian army would like to increase firepower along the Chinese border, the Indian Army plans first to deploy a few K9 howitzers before deploying an entire regiment in the high-altitude area.
The K9 nicknamed Vajra in the Indian army is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer designed by the South Korean defense company Samsung Techwin and is manufactured in India by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The Indian Army currently has five K9 Vajra regiments. Each regiment is equipped with 18 guns and two reserve units. In January 2022, India has announced a possible acquisition of 200 more k9 howitzers.
The K9 VAJRA-T is a variant of the South Korean K9 Thunder which is considered by defense experts to be the world’s best 155mm/52 caliber self-propelled howitzers. The K9 is based on a tracked armored chassis and it can run at a maximum road speed of 67 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 360 km.
The main armament of the K9 Thunder consists of a 155 mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40 km. A total of 48 projectiles and their associated charges are carried for ready use.
