K9 Vajra-T
Vajra
Tracked 155mm firepower that keeps pace with armour.
About the Vajra-T
The K9 Thunder (Korean: K-9 자주곡사포; Hanja: K-9 自走曲射砲; RR: K-9 Jajugoksapo) is a South Korean 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and private corporations including Samsung Aerospace Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, and Poongsan Corporation for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and is now manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace.
Service history
L&T won the self-propelled howitzer competition in 2017 with a K9 Thunder adapted to Indian requirements — desert cooling, indigenous fire control, and around half its content sourced in India. All 100 guns of the first batch were delivered by 2021, ahead of schedule; a follow-on order for 100 more was signed in 2024. Regiments have since deployed to eastern Ladakh, a role the design never anticipated.
Combat edge
Deployed to high-altitude Ladakh beyond its design brief
Three rounds in 15 seconds in burst mode
Built by L&T with roughly 50% indigenous content
Shoot-and-scoot with automated laying