The Indian Army is considering procuring 300 additional K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers at an estimated cost of 230 billion Indian rupees ($2.42 billion).
A proposal to move the plan forward is expected to be submitted to the Indian Ministry of Defence’s Defence Procurement Board this week, according to India Today.
If approved, the contract is expected to go to India’s Larsen & Toubro, which locally produces the K9 Vajra under a technology partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace.
The Indian Army already operates a fleet of 100 K-9s, while an additional 100 units were ordered in 2024.
A possible fleet of 500 K-9s will significantly enhance the service’s long-range strike capabilities along both the western border with Pakistan and the northern frontier with China.
K-9 Vajra
Designed to provide deep fire support while maintaining high mobility across diverse terrain, the K9 Vajra is India’s customized variant of the South Korean K9 Thunder howitzer.
Powered by a 1,000-horsepower engine, it reaches speeds of 67 kilometers (41 miles) per hour and has an operational range exceeding 360 kilometers (223 miles).
Its 155mm gun can fire high-explosive and precision-guided rounds up to 50 kilometers (31 miles), delivering three rounds in 15 seconds and sustaining up to eight rounds per minute for short bursts.
India selected the 50-ton system in 2015 after it outperformed the Russian 2S19 Msta-S in field trials.
