Defence in brief: India signs for more Vajra-T

India has signed a contract for more Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers to be manufactured in-country by Larsen & Toubro, according to a 3rd April Hanwha press release. An accompanying post on LinkedIn states that the deal is valued at $273 million (€249.5 million) and will provide components for 100 Vajra-Ts, which are based on Hanwha’s K9 with modifications for high altitudes and other specific requirements. 

The new howitzers will join 100 Vajra-T howitzers that are already in service as India works to modernise its artillery park and introduce a greater quantity of self-propelled systems. Larsen & Toubro announced that it had received a follow-on order for additional Vajra-Ts from the Indian government in December 2024. Presumably this release from Hanwha indicates that the company has now placed an order with Hanwha for the components. 

Calibre comment

The K9 has become one of the most successful self-propelled howitzers in terms of the numbers sold, with Australia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Poland, and Romania all either using the howitzer or expecting to receive them in the near term. Its largest user is South Korea, with more than 1,000 estimated to be in service, but it is also used by Turkey as the Firtina and has been ordered by Egypt. 

There are several reasons for its success, including cost and simplicity: It appears to be competitive in price and can be delivered quickly from Hanwha’s production line, which is kept active through state and export orders. The system is also built for conscript forces, and so offers a simplified training burden compared with more complex systems like the Archer or PzH2000. The range and magazine depth of the vehicle make it a solid close support system, well-suited to supporting armoured units as they manoeuvre. Other systems like Archer are arguably better-suited to more mobile warfare and general fire support. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 8th April, 2025.