The Indian Army has received the formal delivery of the 155mm 52-calibre tracked self-propelled K9 Vajra artillery gun system and M777 ultra-light howitzer weapon systems for a total value of approximately Rs94bn ($1.31bn).
The official induction of the weapon system into the Indian Army service was carried out during a ceremony conducted in Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
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Delivery included 145 units of the US M777 howitzers and 100 units of the South Korean-made K9 Vajra.
In addition, a third gun system, the ‘composite gun tractor’, has been delivered to the army to be used for towing 130mm and 155mm weapon systems.
In January 2017, BAE Systems received a $542m contract from the US Department of Defense to provide 145 M777 howitzers to the Indian Army.
The acquisition of the M777 artillery guns has been carried out through a foreign military sales programme between the US and Indian governments.
The first regiment of the M777 howitzers is scheduled to be completed by October next year.
In May 2017, India’s Ministry of Defence awarded Larsen & Toubro a Rs45bn ($701.2m) contract for the supply of 100 units of the self-propelled gun systems.
While the first regiment of K9 Vajra is expected to be completed by July, the induction of the 100 units is due to be completed by November 2020.
Deliveries of all the weapon systems will be carried out over the next two years.
