Hanwha Aerospace in South Korea made the 155 mm/52 calibre K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers for the Indian Army. The company told Janes that the Indian Army has ordered more of these guns.
The company has received an order from India for 100 more K9s, which are now being made.
“An order for another 100 K9s is being talked about, and the deal could be done by 2023. “Hanwha is already talking about the order with our partner Larsen & Toubro (L&T),” he said.
“These additional quantities, which are part of a repeat order, will include K9s that have been upgraded to work in high-altitude areas as well as K9s that already have these technologies,” the spokesperson said.
The Indian Army has 100 K9 Vajra-Ts, which are the Indian version of the K9 Thunder. They are made in India, and 50% of their parts are also made in India.
Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defense says that India asked for 100 SPHs that were compatible with NATO in 1994. At first, India looked at bids from mostly Western countries. By 2010, the bidding process had not led to a solution that met India’s needs.
In 2013, the 2S19M1-155 from Rosoboronexport competed with the K9 Thunder from South Korea to meet India’s need for 100 SPHs. In September 2015, the K9 was chosen.
