L&T and Samsung Techwin (STW) Developed 155-mm/52-cal K9 Vajra-T Tracked Self Propelled Artillery at DefExpo 2014

L&T and STW's 155-mm/52-cal tracked SP gun and loader

L&T displayed a model of it proposed K9 Vajra-T gun and its at their pavilion at DefExpo 2014.

Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and Samsung Techwin (STW) Co of South Korea announced on March 29, 2012 during DefExpo 2012 that they would cooperate to develop a 155-mm/52-cal tracked, self propelled artillery for the Indian Army.

The Indian Army plans to acquire 100 155-mm/52-cal Tracked SP (Self Propelled) Guns under its artillery modernization program. MOD floated a tender inviting India's Tata Power SED, Larsen & Toubro, BEML and Rosoboronexport to bid. L&T submitted a bid as lead partner in 2011.

The proposed L&T gun is a localized version of STW's K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer, claimed as the ‘largest and most successful’ of the 155 mm/52 caliber self-propelled artillery systems globally today.

L&T, as the lead partner, would localize the K9 using key technologies from STW, and manufacture it at its defense equipment facility at Talegaon near Pune.

K9 Thunder at DefExpo 2012

The production version of the gun will feature over 50 per cent local content.

The K9 Vajra-T can fire Extended Range Full Bore Boat Tail (ERFB BT) and Extended Range Full Bore Base Bleed (ERFB BB) projectiles to ranges of 30-km and 40-km respectively. It can fire a K315 HE Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) to a range exceeding 50-km. The range using a standard M107 high explosive (HE) projectile is 18-km.

The Vajra-T has a direct fire sight to engage ground targets. It can engage a tank size (2.3-m x 2.3-m) target at 1-km.

It can fire a burst of 3 rounds in 30-sec, 6 to 8 rounds a minute for 3-min. Sustained rate of fire is 2 rounds per minute for one hour.

Equipped with a 1,000-hp engine, the K9 Vajra-T has a power-to-weight ration of 21-hp/ton. It's equipped with a hydro-pneumatic suspension system and can achieve a max speed of 67-kph.

The SP gun features an automatic fire control system (AFCS), powered gun elevation/depression and traverse system. The gun can be laid using a data link or on-board fire-control equipment. The automatic loading system receives projectiles from the storage position and places them on to the ammunition tray for ramming.

The driver has 6.5" video display for day driving  and an uncooled thermal imager for night driving.

The Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV), K10, has a max transfer rate of 12 rounds / min. It can carry 104 rounds (Projectile) and 504 units (Charge).