Hanwha Aerospace confirms second order of 100 new K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers by India.

On April 3, 2025, the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace signed a new contract with India's Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to supply components for 100 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers to the Indian Army. The contract is valued at $253 million and was formalized during a signing ceremony held at the Embassy of South Korea in New Delhi. This agreement builds upon the initial order placed in 2017 for 100 units, which were delivered ahead of schedule by February 18, 2021, from L&T’s Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira.
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The latest contract includes an enhanced domestic work share, raising the localization level from over 50% in the first batch to an expected 60% in the second batch of K9 Vajra-Ts. (Picture source: Indian MoD)

The new order increases the total number of K9 Vajra-T howitzers in the Indian Army to 200. The latest contract includes an enhanced domestic work share, raising the localization level from over 50% in the first batch to an expected 60% in the second batch. This is to be achieved through expanded collaboration with Indian defense industry partners under the framework of technology transfer agreements initiated in 2012 between Samsung Techwin and L&T. These agreements allowed for licensed production in India using domestically manufactured subsystems such as fire control systems (FCS), communications, NBC protection, and environmental control systems.

The K9 Vajra-T is an Indian-specific variant of the South Korean K9 Thunder. It was selected by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2015 after outperforming the Russian 2S19 Msta-S in field trials. These trials included extensive desert and high-altitude testing, 587 rounds fired using Indian ammunition, and over 1,000 kilometers of mobility tests. Maintenance trials were conducted in Pune, electromagnetic interference tests in Chennai, and environmental tests in Bengaluru. Following successful evaluations, India signed an initial procurement contract on April 21, 2017, and a production agreement valued at $310 million. The first 10 units were built in South Korea, and 90 were assembled in India by L&T.

The K9 Vajra-T is equipped with a 155mm/52-caliber main gun capable of firing high-explosive, smoke, and guided projectiles at ranges up to 50 kilometers with extended-range ammunition. The system can achieve a burst rate of three rounds in 15 seconds and a maximum firing rate of six to eight rounds per minute for three minutes. The howitzer is powered by an MTU MT 881 Ka-500 diesel engine producing 1,000 horsepower, with a maximum speed of 67 km/h and an operational range of 360 km. Additional modifications for Indian service include desert and high-altitude performance enhancements, the integration of a South African auxiliary power unit (APU), and a digital fire control system supporting Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability. The gunner’s sight enables direct fire, similar to main battle tanks.

The K9 Vajra-T platform was deployed to the Ladakh plateau during the 2020 China–India skirmishes and subsequently underwent further evaluations in cold, high-altitude conditions. These trials led the MoD to consider additional procurement. In 2021, the Army proposed the acquisition of 40 more units, and in 2022 the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a new batch of 100 units. The Cabinet Committee on Security formally approved the procurement on December 12, 2024, with the contract signed on December 20, 2024. Discussions are reportedly ongoing for an additional batch of 200 units, estimated at $1.2 billion, with delivery expected by 2028. These may include further modifications such as an upgraded engine optimized for high-altitude operations.

The K9 Vajra-T is equipped with a 155mm/52-caliber main gun capable of firing high-explosive, smoke, and guided projectiles at ranges up to 50 kilometers with extended-range ammunition. (Picture source: Indian MoD)

In parallel, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI), are working on advanced 155mm shells. These include ramjet-propelled projectiles intended for extended range beyond 60 km, as well as smart munitions compatible with the K9 Vajra-T. Munitions India will manufacture these shells. The smart ammunition is designed to achieve a Circular Error Probability (CEP) of under 10 meters, utilizing NavIC satellite guidance with GPS backup, fin stabilization, canard control, and a three-mode fuse (delayed, point detonation, and height of burst). These shells are intended for use with 39- and 45-caliber 155mm guns including Dhanush, DRDO ATAGS, and K9 Vajra.

The original K9 Thunder platform was developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development in the 1990s, with production beginning in 1998. It features a 155mm L52-caliber main gun capable of firing NATO-standard ammunition at ranges of 18 to 50 km depending on the ammunition type. It can fire three rounds in 15 seconds and sustain six to eight rounds per minute. The platform includes a hydropneumatic suspension system, a 1,000 hp engine, and armor protection using MIL-12560H steel against projectile fragments, armor-piercing rounds, and mines. Since its introduction, over 1,800 K9 Thunder units have been produced. The system holds over 50% of the global self-propelled howitzer market and is operated by South Korea and other countries including Norway, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Türkiye, Australia, and Egypt. The system has also been tested with various NATO and U.S. munitions, including the M982 Excalibur and XM1113 RAP, achieving extended ranges up to 60 km.

In May 2021, a proposal to develop a light tank using the K9 chassis and a 105mm or 120mm gun was explored by DRDO and L&T but was discontinued due to weight constraints exceeding 30 tonnes. India has also considered jointly exporting the K9 Vajra-T variant with South Korea to third countries. L&T and Hanwha Aerospace continue to cooperate under the framework of South Korea–India defense agreements initiated in 2012, which emphasized industrial cooperation and technology transfer.