The Indian Army plans to procure 300 K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers in a mega acquisition valued at Rs 23,000 crore, according to reports. The deal represents one of the largest artillery modernisation initiatives aimed at strengthening firepower capabilities on both the China and Pakistan fronts.
The K-9 Vajra is a 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled gun developed by Ordnance Factories Board (now OFB) in partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Defence. The system entered service with the Indian Army in 2018 after successful trials and has since proven its operational effectiveness across multiple exercises and deployments.
The gun platform is mounted on a tracked chassis and equipped with an indigenous fire control system, ballistic computer, and gun-aiming system. It can fire standard NATO-standard 155mm ammunition at ranges exceeding 40 kilometres and accommodates both conventional and guided munitions. The turret is fully automated, capable of independent target engagement with minimal crew intervention.
The K-9 Vajra addresses a critical gap in the Indian Army’s artillery modernisation roadmap. While the Army had operated the older Caterpillar-based tracked gun systems, the Vajra provides superior mobility, rapid-fire capability, and integrated digital fire control. Its wheeled variant, the K-9 Thunder, also exists but the tracked Vajra is preferred for operations in challenging terrain across the Himalayan and desert theatres.
India’s earlier induction of the K-9 Vajra occurred in limited numbers through a 100-gun order completed between 2018 and 2020. The current procurement plan scales up the fleet significantly, reflecting the Army’s assessment of sustained artillery requirements in a two-front scenario and the system’s proven reliability in service.
The procurement aligns with India’s broader defence modernisation strategy under Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat frameworks. OFB, operating under the Department of Defence Production, has established production and assembly capability for the platform domestically. The deal also reinforces India’s existing defence partnership with South Korea, a key technology source for artillery systems and ammunition.
Integration of advanced fire control systems, GPS-enabled positioning, and networked battlefield management capabilities on these guns will enhance the Army’s real-time situational awareness and strike coordination. The K-9 Vajra’s compatibility with existing Indian ammunition production lines and logistics infrastructure simplifies sustainment and operational deployment across multiple corps and divisions.
