Thanks for the breakdown! Glad to see that opens up private (or DRDO/PSU) SPHs for the next round. And potentially 814 order for MGS.
What are folks here opinion on this- General Atomics Winged Artillery Shell? It supposedly fits in existing Artillery and can strike at 120-150km that too without any motor. Some seems to be envisaging a motor that can burn through again and provide even more range.
pretty cool, would be very good if DRDO also develops a variant of this shell and manages to combine it with the ramjet shell as well considered the ramjet is just an add on. But it does take away from the kinetic impact of a shell and it might also be more vulnerable to jamming etc.
Artillery procurement will only be from only indian companies.
India’s artillery push: 335 Vajras, proposals worth Rs 2.12 lakh crore including VVIP choppers cleared
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded in-principle administrative approval to various capital acquisition proposals of defence forces.
Snehesh Alex Philip
26 October, 2026 08:39 pm IST
With the additional 300 now cleared for contract negotiations, Vajra will emerge as the mainstay of the Artillery regiments in times to come. | ANI
New Delhi: The Defence Ministry Monday cleared proposals worth Rs 2.12 lakh-crore for military procurements, including a major push for artillery guns with plans to procure 335 more 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T self-propelled tracked guns.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)—in-principle administrative approval—to various capital acquisition proposals of the defence forces.
For the Indian Army, approval was accorded for the procurement of High Mobility Vehicles (HMV), Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System, Gun Shot Response System (GSRS), Light Multi Role Helicopters (LMRH), Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), Platform-Based Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS), Unmanned Aerial System Brick Long Range, Surveillance UAV, Integrated Surveillance and Strike System and Long Range Kamikaze Drone System, a statement by the Defence Ministry said.
Sources in the defence establishment said the Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System was the Vajra, 100 of which have been delivered and another 100 of which has been ordered for.
With the additional 335 now cleared for contract negotiations, Vajra will emerge as the mainstay of the Artillery regiments in times to come.
The number of 500 Vajras is well beyond the original Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan targets which was just 100.
In 2017, L&T won the Rs 4,500-crore contract to supply 100 K9 Vajras under ‘Make in India’ initiative for which it signed a transfer of technology contract with Hanwha Corporation.
According to L&T, the K9 Vajras were delivered with more than 80 percent indigenous work packages and above 50 percent indigenisation (by value) at the programme level.
When the Army did the trials for Vajras before selection, the trials were conducted in deserts and not in high-altitude areas where the howitzer’s systems work differently in rarefied atmosphere and extreme cold.
But with the tensions breaking out with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Army decided to deploy three of these tracked howitzers in Eastern Ladakh as a trial measure in 2020.
The three guns were fitted with winterisation kits that enabled them to work in sub-zero temperatures even though they were designed to operate in deserts. As reported by ThePrint, the gun system proved its mettle following which the Army deployed a full regiment (20 guns make one regiment) of these howitzers in Eastern Ladakh to add to its firepower.
The Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System will provide matching mobility and firepower to mechanised formations, the defence ministry statement added.
“The HMVs will enhance operational capabilities, logistic support and mobility in challenging terrains…The GSRS will serve as a force multiplier providing real-time situational awareness of the forces. The LMRH will be used by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Combat, Search and Rescue of troops, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief etc.
“The VSHORADS will engage new generation small size aerial threats, while C-UAS will enhance survivability of Tanks in the modern battlefield. The Surveillance and Drone Systems will enhance the surveillance and targeting capabilities of the Indian Army,” the statement read.
For the Indian Navy, approval was given for the procurement of Active Offboard Decoy System (AODS) and other major Naval platforms.
The AODS will enhance the credibility of anti-missiles defence, especially against modern anti-ship missiles of adversaries. The indigenously designed and constructed major Naval platforms will possess modern-day warfare capabilities and enhance the combat capability of the Navy, the Defence ministry said.
VVIP choppers
For the Indian Air Force, approval was accorded for the procurement of helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System to enhance air defence and war fighting capabilities.
The procurement of Special Utility Helicopters will help the IAF meet important air transport requirements, the defence ministry said.
Sources explained that this involves procurement of 24 choppers at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore for transport of VVIPs, including the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister.
They will replace the current Russian Mi17- V5 helicopters in use.
The main competition will be between European Airbus and American Lockheed Martin.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
India’s artillery push: 335 Vajras, proposals worth Rs 2.12 lakh crore including VVIP choppers cleared
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded in-principle administrative approval to various capital acquisition proposals of defence forces.
Snehesh Alex Philip
26 October, 2026 08:39 pm IST
With the additional 300 now cleared for contract negotiations, Vajra will emerge as the mainstay of the Artillery regiments in times to come. | ANI
New Delhi: The Defence Ministry Monday cleared proposals worth Rs 2.12 lakh-crore for military procurements, including a major push for artillery guns with plans to procure 335 more 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T self-propelled tracked guns.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)—in-principle administrative approval—to various capital acquisition proposals of the defence forces.
For the Indian Army, approval was accorded for the procurement of High Mobility Vehicles (HMV), Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System, Gun Shot Response System (GSRS), Light Multi Role Helicopters (LMRH), Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), Platform-Based Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS), Unmanned Aerial System Brick Long Range, Surveillance UAV, Integrated Surveillance and Strike System and Long Range Kamikaze Drone System, a statement by the Defence Ministry said.
Sources in the defence establishment said the Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System was the Vajra, 100 of which have been delivered and another 100 of which has been ordered for.
With the additional 335 now cleared for contract negotiations, Vajra will emerge as the mainstay of the Artillery regiments in times to come.
The number of 500 Vajras is well beyond the original Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan targets which was just 100.
In 2017, L&T won the Rs 4,500-crore contract to supply 100 K9 Vajras under ‘Make in India’ initiative for which it signed a transfer of technology contract with Hanwha Corporation.
According to L&T, the K9 Vajras were delivered with more than 80 percent indigenous work packages and above 50 percent indigenisation (by value) at the programme level.
When the Army did the trials for Vajras before selection, the trials were conducted in deserts and not in high-altitude areas where the howitzer’s systems work differently in rarefied atmosphere and extreme cold.
But with the tensions breaking out with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Army decided to deploy three of these tracked howitzers in Eastern Ladakh as a trial measure in 2020.
The three guns were fitted with winterisation kits that enabled them to work in sub-zero temperatures even though they were designed to operate in deserts. As reported by ThePrint, the gun system proved its mettle following which the Army deployed a full regiment (20 guns make one regiment) of these howitzers in Eastern Ladakh to add to its firepower.
The Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System will provide matching mobility and firepower to mechanised formations, the defence ministry statement added.
“The HMVs will enhance operational capabilities, logistic support and mobility in challenging terrains…The GSRS will serve as a force multiplier providing real-time situational awareness of the forces. The LMRH will be used by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Combat, Search and Rescue of troops, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief etc.
“The VSHORADS will engage new generation small size aerial threats, while C-UAS will enhance survivability of Tanks in the modern battlefield. The Surveillance and Drone Systems will enhance the surveillance and targeting capabilities of the Indian Army,” the statement read.
For the Indian Navy, approval was given for the procurement of Active Offboard Decoy System (AODS) and other major Naval platforms.
The AODS will enhance the credibility of anti-missiles defence, especially against modern anti-ship missiles of adversaries. The indigenously designed and constructed major Naval platforms will possess modern-day warfare capabilities and enhance the combat capability of the Navy, the Defence ministry said.
VVIP choppers
For the Indian Air Force, approval was accorded for the procurement of helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System to enhance air defence and war fighting capabilities.
The procurement of Special Utility Helicopters will help the IAF meet important air transport requirements, the defence ministry said.
Sources explained that this involves procurement of 24 choppers at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore for transport of VVIPs, including the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister.
They will replace the current Russian Mi17- V5 helicopters in use.
The main competition will be between European Airbus and American Lockheed Martin.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
India’s artillery push: 335 Vajras, proposals worth Rs 2.12 lakh crore including VVIP choppers cleared
FARP was right or wrong is another thing. But they are following the FARP.
It called for
200 tracked self propelled howitzers
180 wheeled self propelled howitzers
814 Truck mounted gun systems
India bought 100 K9s and cancelled the 180 program.
That leaves us with 100 + 180 = 280 more K9 type requirement.
India ordered another 100 K9.
That leaves requirement for 180 more K9 type systems.
The Arjun based Catapults never went into service. That's around 40 systems.
That's around 180 + 40 = 220 K9 type systems.
FARP never accounted for mountain deployment of SPHs. K9s performance was decent. That prompted army to have around 100 more K9 type systems.
So that's around 320 K9 type system requirements.
And that's exactly what Army is seeking with this 335 batch 3 order.
Interesting little bit that I found while browsing through my feed. I was not aware of A2 and A3 were bringing substantial upgrades.
K9A2 includes
K9A2 includes
- Enhanced main gun: New rifling and chrome plating will increase barrel life from 1,000 EFC to 1,500 EFC, longer range, and allow faster firing rate.
- High-response artillery automation system: Key feature of the A2 and future A3 upgrade. Reduces crew number from 5 to 3 (2 in emergency) by installing a fully automated autoloading system, which increases the maximum firing rate from 6 to 8 rds/min to 9 to 10 rds/min and sustain firing rate from 2 to 3 rds/min to 4 to 6 rds/min.
- Increased sustained fire: All 48 rounds are located in the turret, and are accessible with the autoloader.
- Turret driving system: Changes from an electrohydraulic to an electric driving system.
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I am damn happy that we are ordering more and more k9s, infact i want the numbers to reach 1000-1500.
But seriously, what is happening to Kalyani lines of howitzers. They developed light weight 105 mm, marg, ULH etc. Are we stupid enough to kill desi weapon by not placing orders?