Army to get new batch of K-9 Vajra Howitzers in one month, says Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a ride in K-9 Vajra howitzer, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said Army would get a fleet of 10 more Howitzers in next one month.

K-9 Vajra is one of two new howitzers to have been inducted into Army after a gap of more than 30 years in show of Bofors gun scandal.

" induction of gun into Army was a big achievement after a gap of 30 years... in next month, Army will receive a new batch of se guns," Defence Minister Sitharaman said in reply to an ANI query.

This is one of fastest deals in terms of time taken.

Larsen & Toubro h won Rs 4,500 crore contract to supply 100 units of K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled gun systems to Indian Army in 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Armoured Systems Complex of Larsen and Toubro in Gujarat, first private facility in country where K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns will be manufactured.

Larsen & Toubro h in 2017 won Rs 4,500-crore contract from Ministry of Defence to supply 100 units of K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled gun systems to Indian Army under Centre's 'Make in India' initiative.

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"I congratulate entire team of Larsen & Toubro for building state-of--art K-9 Vajra Self Propelled Howitzer. This is a significant contribution towards India's defence sector and protecting country," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

"Boosting 'Make in India' in defence sector is our endeavour. I am gl that private sector too is supporting this pursuit and making a valuable contribution," he h said in anor tweet.

or gun to have been inducted into Army was M-777 ultralight howitzer which has been imported from US.

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