L&T will make Rs 5,000 cr worth Artillery guns for the Indian Army

The longstanding demand of Indian Army to have artillery guns will now be fulfilled. A $750-million (about Rs 5,000 crore) deal to provide 100 self-propelled artillery guns to the Indian Army has been signed with the domestic manufacturer Larsen and Toubro. Under the deal, the 155 mm artillery guns suitable for operation in the desert areas bordering Pakistan, will be specially designed.

With this move, Indian Army will gain an edge over the Pakistani army in the artillery gun space. Apparently, Pakistan is currently using guns that United States provided them with when the ‘war on terrorism’ was on. US supplied modern M 109A5 cannons to the latter as a ‘reward’ for its assistance in the war on the Afghanistan border.

India had earlier expressed its concerns over Pakistan acquiring an edge in the conventional warfare in the year 2009. Indian Army extended its plans to have a similar system. The process, however, was dragged for several years, but finally defence ministry took a call last week.

L&T was not the only manufacturer eyeing the artillery guns deal; several other global manufacturers from across the world had submitted their entries as well.

Officials requesting anonymity informed that the K9 VAJRA-T howitzer, pitched by L&T in partnership with Samsung, has been shortlisted for the contract.

However, there is a bad news: even after getting the final approval, the production of artillery guns might take another six months inform sources. Well, better late than never.

L& T will be making the Vajra, which would be the first new artillery gun to be produced in India since the 1980s. Not even a single new modern system has been purchased since. Another parallel effort to procure M777 ultra-light howitzers from the US is under process.

L&T’s Pune facility will produce the Vajra and reports have also been suggesting that it might be considered for exports in the future, along with an expected follow-on order for more guns for the Army.

The Vajra beat its Russian competitor on several technical grounds, including rate of fire, accuracy and mobility trials, officials said. L&T officials, however, refused to comment on the development.

While Pakistan managed to procure the American systems in 2009, India's plans for similar systems have been stuck since 1999, with several failed rounds at identifying a gun.