basics - studyiq.com · •the k9 vajra-t is a variant of the south korean k9 thunder which is...
TRANSCRIPT
BASICS
• Indian Army will soon have the deadly K9 VAJRA-T 155mm/ 52
calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer in its arsenal.
• The gun developed and built by developed by Larsen and
Toubro (L&T) Defence is likely to enter service by the end of
May 2018
NOTES
•The K9 VAJRA-T is a variant of the South Korean K9
Thunder which is considered by defence experts to be
the world's best 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled
howitzer in terms of the number of systems in active
service.
HOWITZER• Self-propelled - Self-propelled guns are
mounted on a motorised wheeled or
tracked chassis (because of this they are
sometimes visually similar to tanks).
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A MAIN BATTLE TANK, A SELF-PROPELLED
HOWITZER• Tank - An armoured fighting vehicle armed with a high-caliber
cannon on a rotating turret designed for direct engagements
against other armoured fighting vehicles.
• They’re made to provide indirect fire. Since they’re supposed
to fight so far away from their targets, they don’t have heavy
armor.
NOW, WHY DOES INDIA NEED LIGHT HOWITZER'S?
• Long range, depending on the ammunition and the length of
barrel (caliber). In comparison, the range of tanks and mortars
is limited to around 5 km.
• Elevation: Tanks have a elevation of +25 degrees to -10 degrees.
Howitzers have elevation of +70 degrees to -5 degrees. A
Howitzer will be able to hit a target on top of a mountain,
while a tank will not.
FIRST FIVE INDIAN M777 HOWITZERS TO ENTER SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER
•Weight - 4,200 kg
CONNECTIONS• Heavy lift aircraft : Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Lockheed
Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Airbus C-295 military transport
• Heavy lift helicopters : CH-47F Chinook Heavy Lift
• Self Propelled Tracked Howitzer - The K9 Thunder to be
manufactured as the K9 VAJRA-T by L&T
• Self Propelled Wheeled Howitzer - The Dhanush :
Enhanced version of the original Bofors FH77B Howitzer,
designed by OFB+DRDO-ARDE.
• MLRS : The Pinaka MBRL - Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher
K9 VAJRA-T• At present several armies across the world have the K9
Thunder in their arsenal. The gun has a proven track record of
delivering devastating firepower in extreme weather
conditions, jungles, barren deserts and severely cold areas.
NOTES
•L&T had joined hands with South Korea's Hanwha
Tech Win (HTW) to win the bid in May 2017 to
deliver 100 howitzers at a cost of nearly Rs 4,500
crore under the government's 'Make In India'
initiative in 42 months.
•The guns have over 50 per cent indigenous
components.
•Under the contract, L&T brought 10 K9
VAJRA-T from South Korea while the rest 90
are being manufactured at L&T's Strategic
Systems Complex in Talegaon near Pune. L&T
is also constructing a production line for K9
VAJRA-T at Hazira in Gujarat.