With the arrival of an additional 100 K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers (SPH), the Indian Army is about to greatly increase the potency of its artillery. After the first 100 units were successfully inducted and shown their mettle in the difficult desert environment, this maneuver is a logical next step.
But the changing geopolitical environment—especially the continuing conflict in Ukraine—has forced the Indian Army to reevaluate its artillery requirements. There may be a spike in demand for self-propelled artillery systems due to the modern battlefield’s growing emphasis on mobility and survivability. As such, the Indian Army is currently considering an even more audacious goal of obtaining up to 400 K-9 Vajra SPHs, requiring an extra 200 units to be ordered.
K-9 Vajra SPHs were first produced with desert warfare in mind, mainly aimed at Pakistan’s western border. Winterization kits, which are part of the next purchase, will improve the system’s functioning in the tough high-altitude conditions that are typical along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Even if the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities would certainly be strengthened by 200 more troops, it might not be enough to avert a full-fledged fight on each front. This has given rise to conjecture on a possible doubling of the order quantity.
It’s interesting to note that the first attempt by India to create a self-propelled howitzer, the Arjun-based Bhim, was unsuccessful because of charges of corruption related to the foreign howitzer component. The difficulties that Indigenous development initiatives in the defense industry encounter are highlighted by this episode.
Also Read: Indian Army mulls Zorawar Light Tank trials all over India
A related event is that the German MTU engine was swapped out with a locally manufactured powerplant by the original K-9 maker, South Korea, demonstrating the growing trend of crucial components becoming more self-reliant.
The option to acquire more K-9 Vajra SPHs or to pursue an Indigenous development path would be a critical one that will have a significant impact on India’s defense readiness as the Army refines its plans for modernizing its artillery.
