Indian Army deploys K9 Vajra in Ladakh, Army Chief Naravane says ‘we have added an entire regiment’
Built by L&T with technology transfer from South Korean defense major Hanwha Defense, the K9 Vajra is an indigenized version of the K9 Thunder and can strike enemy targets at around 50 km.
The Indian Army has also deployed its T-90 tanks in Ladakh.
Speaking on their deployment and performance, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said that these guns can also work in high-altitude areas.
“Their field trials were extremely successful. We have now added an entire regiment, this will be really helpful,” the COAS said.
The defense ministry has received 51 of the 100 orders it received for K9 Vajra ahead of schedule.
“Chinese have deployed in considerable numbers all across Eastern Ladakh and Northern front right up to our Eastern command. Definitely, there has been an increase in their deployment in the forward areas which remains a matter of concern for us,” he was quoted as saying by ANI in Ladakh.
The Army chief was in Leh town where the world’s largest Khadi national flag was installed on October 2, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 152nd birth anniversary.
While India has increased participation of the private sector in defense production, a lot still needs to be done to make India a global weapons manufacturing hub.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for active participation of the private sector in defense manufacturing, reaffirming the government’s commitment to make India a weapons manufacturing hub and net defense exporter.
After flagging off the K9 Vajra-T gun from the Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat last year in October, Singh had said that more than 75 percent of howitzer has been manufactured in India.
“Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex. It is a matter of great pride,” he had said.
He also spoke about the Strategic Partnership (SP) model which has been introduced in the Defence Production Policy under which the private sector will be able to manufacture fighter aircraft, helicopters, submarines, and armored vehicles and emerge as global giants.
Source: ANI, Times Now
