L&T ties up with Hanwha for gun programme

They'll jointly manufacture over 100 self- propelled howitzers for Indian Army

Larsen & Toubro, India’s multinational engineering conglomerate and private sector defence major, and Hanwha Techwin (HTW) of South Korea, today signed a contract for execution of the 155mm/ 52 Cal Tracked Self Propelled (SP) Gun programme for the Indian Army. 

L&T was declared as the sole qualified bidder, post User Evaluation Trials, based on the performance of the K9 VAJRA-T, a self-propelled howitzer customised and fielded by L&T with HTW as the technology partner. The K9 VAJRA-T gun is an enhanced version of HTW’s K9 Thunder, to suit specific requirements of the Indian Army including desert operations. 

Hanwha Group, Hanwha Techwin’s parent company, is the largest private sector defence conglomerate in South Korea.

HTW’s K9 Thunder is one of the best performing self-propelled howitzers in the world with over 1,000 numbers already in service in Korea and few other countries. This programme has set new benchmarks in co-development and co-production of defence systems by Indian private sector defence players and foreign majors, L&T said in a press statement. 

Jayant Patil, head of defence and aerospace and Member of Heavy Engineering Board at L&T, said: “This contract marks an important milestone in L&T's Defence Business journey and in our relationship with Hanwha Techwin. It will create synergies not only for this program but also for upcoming Indian and global programs. This also marks a giant step forward towards furthering the “Make in India” vision of the Government of India. L&T plans to begin production of this vital weapon system at its Strategic Systems Complex at Talegaon near Pune in Maharashtra and deliver the first batch of 10 guns. L&T also has initiated setting up of a greenfield manufacturing line at Hazira, Gujarat, integral with a state-of-the-art test track, to produce, test and qualify the K9 VAJRA-T guns.”

L&T will manufacture K9 VAJRA-T in India with over 50% indigenous content besides providing life support from India.