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New Delhi: India has cleared a major artillery modernisation proposal for the Indian Army, with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granting in-principle approval for more than 300 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers, with an estimated cost of over ₹20,000 crore, to strengthen the Army’s firepower along the borders with China and Pakistan.
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The proposed acquisition is expected to expand the Army’s existing fleet of 200 K9 Vajra howitzers. The additional guns are intended to improve artillery deployment in both desert sectors and high-altitude regions, including areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The programme also included winterisation kits to support operations in extreme cold and mountainous terrain.
The K9 Vajra-T is a 155mm/52-calibre tracked self-propelled artillery system manufactured in India by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. Its tracked mobility allows it to move alongside mechanised formations, while its ability to fire and reposition rapidly helps reduce vulnerability to enemy counter-battery fire. The system has also demonstrated its suitability for high-altitude deployment following modifications for cold-weather operations.
The Army’s confidence in the platform followed earlier orders for 100 guns in 2017 and another 100 under a subsequent procurement programme. The proposed expansion would take the total fleet ordered to more than 500, strengthening the role of mobile artillery in India’s broader military modernisation strategy.
The programme is expected to be manufactured domestically under the Make in India framework, supporting local defence production and technology partnerships. However, the DAC’s Acceptance of Necessity is an initial clearance rather than a signed contract; final procurement details, quantities and delivery timelines will be determined through subsequent stages.
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