The Government has set a target to achieve a $26 billion turnover in the aerospace and defence industry by 2025 and provide employment to 2-3 million people, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday after flagging of the 51st K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery gun at the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) armoured system complex at Hazira in Gujarat.
“I have been told that more than 75% of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex,” Mr. Singh said, terming the K9 Vajra-T gun the best example of ‘Make in India’ in defence.
In April 2017, L&T and Hanwa Techwin of South Korea signed a contract to manufacture 100 K9 Vajra-T guns. The K9 was shortlisted by the Army after extensive trials and the deal is worth about ₹4,500 crore for 100 guns. The Army inducted the first batch of three guns in end 2018 and al deliveries are set to be completed by year end.
“We wish to create an ecosystem that provides a platform to both public sector and private sector to work together and contribute to nation building through their strengths and experiences,” Mr. Singh said.
K9 Vajra-T is a 155-mm, 52-calibre self-propelled artillery gun with a maximum range of 40 km, customised from the original K9 Thunder gun. The fire control system has been customised for desert conditions to the requirements of the Army.
The K9 Vajra along with the M-777 ultra light howitzer were the first modern pieces of artillery inducted by the Army in three decades after the Bofors guns procured from Sweden in the early 1980s.
