Indian Army Eyes Major Artillery Boost, Plans To Procure 300 More K9 Vajra Guns

Published 10 June 2026 · india

Indian Army Eyes Major Artillery Boost, Plans To Procure 300 More K9 Vajra Guns Reported By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 08:03 IST The proposed

Indian Army Eyes Major Artillery Boost, Plans To Procure 300 More K9 Vajra Guns Reported By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 08:03 IST The proposed deal is estimated to be worth around Rs 23,000 crore and is expected to be taken up by the Defence Procurement Board in the coming days. Rapid Read The K9 Vajra-T is a self-propelled howitzer operated by the Indian Army. The Indian Army is planning a major artillery acquisition, with a proposal to procure 300 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers under consideration, defence sources said. The proposed deal is estimated to be worth around Rs 23,000 crore and is expected to be taken up by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) in the coming days. If cleared, the acquisition would be among the largest artillery procurement programmes undertaken by the Army in recent decades and would significantly strengthen India’s long-range firepower across both the western and northern borders.

The move comes after the Army’s positive operational experience with the K9 Vajra in both desert and high-altitude sectors. The gun, originally designed for plains and desert warfare, was successfully deployed in eastern Ladakh after the military standoff with China, where it proved effective in mountain conditions as well. The Indian Army currently operates 100 K9 Vajra guns. A second order for 100 more guns, worth Rs 7,629 crore, was cleared in 2024 to boost firepower along the northern borders. The K9 Vajra-T is a 155mm/52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer capable of delivering long-range precision fire while operating with armoured formations. Its ability to fire and quickly relocate makes it more survivable against enemy counter-battery fire. The gun is manufactured in India by Larsen & Toubro in partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace and has substantial indigenous content.

According to sources, the Army sees the K9 Vajra as a key part of its future artillery force structure, especially for high-tempo operations on both the western front with Pakistan and the northern front with China. The planned acquisition is part of the Army’s wider artillery modernisation programme, which also includes the induction of ATAGS, Dhanush and upgraded Pinaka rocket systems. The push for additional K9 Vajras also comes amid lessons drawn from recent global conflicts, where long-range artillery has remained central to battlefield operations. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital.