MoD Signs ₹7,629-Crore Deal with L&T for 100 K9 Vajra Artillery Guns

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a ₹7,628.70 crore contract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to supply 100 additional K9 Vajra-T self-propelled tracked artillery guns for the Indian Army. The deal, categorised under the “Buy (Indian)” initiative, strengthens the government’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Boost to Artillery Modernisation

This procurement will modernise the Army’s artillery and enhance operational readiness. Manufactured under license from South Korea’s Hanwha Defense, these guns follow the completion of a previous contract for 100 units, which L&T delivered ahead of schedule.

Key Features of K9 Vajra

The K9 Vajra is a highly advanced artillery gun known for its versatility and cross-terrain mobility. Capable of precision strikes, it offers long-range firepower, high accuracy, and rapid firing rates. Designed for challenging terrains, including sub-zero temperatures, it adds significant firepower to the Army.

L&T’s Role and Achievements

L&T, in partnership with Hanwha Defense, L&T has already delivered 100 K9 Vajra guns under a ₹4,500 crore contract signed in 2017. While the first 10 guns were assembled from imported components, the remaining 90 were largely manufactured in India at L&T’s Hazira facility, aligning with the “Make-in-India” initiative.

Employment and Indigenous Development

The latest project will generate over 9 lakh man-days of employment in 4 years and involve Indian MSMEs. The contract mandates at least 60% Indigenous content, furthering India’s self-reliance goals.

Growing Self-Reliance in Defence

Between FY20 and FY25, 88% of defence procurement contracts were signed with Indian vendors, reflecting the government’s focus on boosting domestic defence manufacturing.

About Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T)

Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) is an Indian multinational company with diverse businesses. It operates in industrial technology, engineering, heavy industry, construction, manufacturing, power, IT, defence, and financial services. The company is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Larsen & Toubro share price is trading at ₹3,658.15, reflecting a gain of ₹28.30 or 0.78% as of 11:06 am on December 23. The stock opened at ₹3,670.00 and reached a high of ₹3,700.00 during the trading session.

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