Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18th Jan 2019 inaugurated the Armoured Systems Complex of Larsen and Toubro in Gujarat which is the first private facility in India where the K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns being developed.ย Theย K9 Thunderย (known as K9 Vajra โ Indian Variant) is a South Korean self-propelledย 155 mmย howitzerย developed byย Samsung Techwinย for theย Republic of Korea Armed Forcesย and now manufactured byย Hanwha Land Systems.
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- During Defexpo 2018 Indian bought 10 units from South Korea and it was assembled by L&T in India, rest of the 100 will be produced byย Larsen & Toubroย for the Indian Army.ย The first batch of 25 units was delivered to the Indian Army in May 2018.
- K9 is an indigenous system of an all-welded steel armour construction which is rated to withstand 14.5ย mm armour piercing rounds, 152ย mm shell fragments, and anti-personnel mines.
- The main armament consists of a 155ย mm/52 caliber ordnance with a maximum firing range of 40ย km;ย the K307 BB-HE projectile propelled by the K676 top charge has a muzzle velocity of 928ย m/s (3,040ย ft/s).
- State-of-the-art mobility subsystems include a 1,000 horsepower (750ย kW) engine with potential for growth andย hydropneumatic suspensionย unit, a requirement for Koreaโs rugged mountainous terrain.
- K9 Variants and upgrades
- XK9:ย Experimental prototype.
- K9 Thunder:ย First-production variant.
- K9 VAJRA-T(Lightning):ย Indian variant of the K9.
- K9FIN Moukari (Sledge-hammer):ย Finnish variant of the K9.
- K9A1(K9 PIP):ย APU, A pilot IR periscope, Rear surveillance camera (such as a K1E1 tank), Fire control HW/SW upgradeย
- K10:ย Ammunition resupply vehicle using the K9 chassis.
- T-155 Fฤฑrtฤฑna:ย Turkish version with modified turret, chassis, electronics and navigation system.
- AHS Krab:ย Polish self-propelled howitzer, using the K9 chassis andย AS-90ย turret.
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Larsen & Toubro state-of-the-art K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Howitzer โ๏ธ??โค๏ธ
