M777 Howitzers & K9 Vajra-T Artillery Gun Inducted in Indian Army

Globally combat proven M777 A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers, K-9 Vajra-Tracked Self Propelled Guns and 6×6 Filed Artillery Tractors, with induction of three guns of each type, were dedicated to the service of the Nation by Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Raksha Mantri on Friday 9 November 2018 in a ceremony held at Deolali Field Firing Ranges at Nashik in Maharashtra, marking a major milestone towards capacity building and capability enhancement of the Indian Army. This is Indian Army’s first artillery gun systems induction in three decades after it inducted Bofors guns procured from Sweden in the early 1980s.

M777 A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers Guns, 155mm/39 Calibre, having a range of 24 to 30 km, versatile and light weight that can be lifted by helicopters, thereby providing much needed flexibility in employment in various terrains obtainable in the country, have been procured from USA under a $737 million government to government foreign military sales deal signed in November 2016. 25 guns will be imported and the rest will be assembled in India by BAE Systems in partnership with Mahindra Defence. Five guns each will be delivered to the Army beginning August 2019 and the entire process will be completed in the following 24 months. The first, of the seven regiments of 145 M777 howitzers to be raised, will be completed by October next year.

Howitzers Guns are currently in service in the U.S., Canadian, Australian and several other armies, and has proved its mettle in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The M777 brings a new level of capability to the artillery unit by offering rapid deployment and extreme accuracy,” Joe Senftle, Vice-President and General Manager of BAE Systems’ weapon systems business, said after the induction.

K-9 Vajra-Tracked Self Propelled, 155mm/52 calibre guns, having a maximum range of 40km, is capable of firing three rounds in 30 seconds in the burst mode, 15 rounds in three minutes in the intense mode and 60 rounds in 60 minutes in the sustained mode.  The first ten K9 Vajra guns have been imported from Hanwha Techwin of South Korea in semi knocked down state to be assembled by L&T in India and the balance 90 guns will be largely manufactured in India with some major assemblies coming from South Korea as per the ₹4366 crore deal for 100 guns signed in April 2017. The next 40 guns will be delivered in November 2019 and another 50 in November 2020. Its induction will enhance firepower capabilities.

Indigenously developed 6×6 Field Artillery Tractor, a common gun tower with cross-country capability, made by Ashok Leyland was also formally inducted to provide the much awaited replacement for the ageing fleet of Tatra Artillery Gun Towing Vehicles.

The dedication Ceremony was also attended by Raksha Rajya Mantri, Dr Subhash Ram Rao Bhamre, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, senior serving officers of the Indian Army & Ministry of Defence, representative of manufacturing industries as also dignitaries from the governments of USA and South Korea.

The event included an impressive display of equipment & firepower by the guns of Indian Artillery. Also on display were indigenous gun systems/ surveillance & target acquisition systems that have been recently introduced in service.