India Expands Firepower with Second Batch of K9 Vajra-T Howitzers in $253 Million Hanwha Deal

India has taken a major step in strengthening its artillery capabilities with the signing of a new $253 million contract with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace for the supply of an additional 100 K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers. This marks a significant leap forward in both India's defence modernisation and its commitment to building a self-reliant military industrial base under the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" vision.

The contract, formalised at the South Korean embassy in New Delhi on April 3, 2025, is a follow-up to the earlier deal signed in 2017. That initial order, which was completed ahead of schedule by 2021, had already delivered 100 K9 Vajra-T units to the Indian Army. The performance of those units and the strategic value they have brought to India’s artillery corps laid the groundwork for this new procurement.

At the heart of this project lies not just an acquisition, but a larger push for defence indigenisation. The second batch of K9 Vajra-Ts will see an increased share of locally sourced components—targeted at over 60%, up from around 50% in the previous batch. This shift will allow Indian industries to deepen their integration into the high-end defence manufacturing ecosystem, boosting both technical skills and job creation.

Production will once again take place at Larsen & Toubro’s Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, a facility that has already proved its mettle by assembling the first 100 guns successfully. More than 13,000 components go into each howitzer, and a network of nearly 1,000 Indian suppliers—many of them MSMEs—will be contributing to this effort. The involvement of 150 Gujarat-based companies alone underlines the regional economic impact of such defence manufacturing projects.

From a technical standpoint, the K9 Vajra-T is among the most capable self-propelled artillery platforms in the world. Based on South Korea’s K9 Thunder, it has been customised for Indian conditions. Whether it’s the arid deserts of Rajasthan, the northern plains, or high-altitude locations near the Himalayas, the K9 Vajra-T is engineered for flexibility and resilience. It boasts a 155mm/52-calibre gun, capable of striking targets over 25 km away with pinpoint accuracy, and is powered by a 1,000 hp German MTU engine coupled with a U.S.-made Allison automatic transmission, ensuring powerful mobility across diverse terrains.

India selected this platform over Russian and other Western competitors after extensive trials in 2013 and 2014. Its selection over the Russian 2S19 MSTA underlined its battlefield superiority and compatibility with Indian operational needs.

But beyond the artillery itself, this deal deepens the strategic defence partnership between India and South Korea. Since their relationship was elevated to a "Special Strategic Partnership" in 2015, both countries have steadily enhanced collaboration across multiple sectors, including land systems, aerospace, and naval technology. Hanwha, in particular, is keen on expanding its footprint in India, with possible future collaborations in air defence systems such as the Hybrid BiHo.

For India, the contract reflects a careful balancing act—modernising its military while ensuring that foreign partnerships translate into local industrial growth. The increasing localisation requirement is a calculated move to foster advanced manufacturing capabilities domestically. According to L&T, this batch alone is expected to generate nearly one million man-days of employment over four years, highlighting the dual military and economic value of such acquisitions.

Looking ahead, this partnership could become a template for future defence procurement—one that merges global expertise with Indian production. It not only secures strategic assets for the Indian Army but also builds long-term industrial capacity within the country.

In sum, the second order of K9 Vajra-Ts is more than a firepower upgrade. It is a strategic, economic, and industrial win for India, affirming its role as a serious player in the global defence landscape. With stronger artillery, deeper bilateral defence ties, and a robust domestic manufacturing push, India is well on track to achieve its long-term military modernisation and self-reliance goals.