K9 Vajra-T:
After the successful collaboration on the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer, India and South Korea are set to deepen their defence partnership.
- K9 Vajra-T is a 155 mm, 52-caliber tracked self-propelled artillery system (howitzer).
- It is an Indian adaptation of South Korea’s K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer.
- It is built by Larsen & Toubro with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense based on its K9 Thunder.
- It is customised to suit the requirements of the Indian Army for operations in varied terrains, including deserts, plains, and high-altitude regions.
- It has all-welded steel armour up to 19 mm thick.
- It is powered by an MTU MT 881 Ka-500 diesel engine producing 1,000 horsepower.
- The main weapon is the 155mm /52 calibre gun capable of firing high-explosive, smoke, and guided projectiles.
- It has a burst rate of fire of three rounds per 15 seconds and a maximum rate of fire of six to eight rounds per minute for three minutes.
- It can strike enemy targets at around 50 kilometres.
- It can also turn around at zero radius, basically at the same place where it is standing.
- The K9 uses a digital fire control system by which it can fire multiple rounds that can impact a given area at the same time (this mode of operation is called Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact, or MRSI).
