Weight is an important factor. The reason why IA still prefers T-90 over the Arjun MBT is primarily due to the weight. Even the new FRCV tender has been designed to primarily favor the T-14 Armata which weighs 48 tons and hence it is evident that IA wants all it's mechanized platforms within that weight range. PanzerH 2k weighs 56 tons while K9 is at 47 tons.
Secondly, PanzerH 2k costs $1mn more per unit than the K9 and since we have more budget tied up for salaries and pensions, cost is also a crucial factor. Procuring western weapons systems would come with a lot of strings attached except for France and Germany being a major ally of US, we would be at the mercy of Uncle Sam during tough times and also, we could expect significant ToT from SK and they would also let us source majority of the components and sub-systems locally
Why in this world our army is still stuck with lightweight tanks?
Anti tank weaponry is getting better and better , there's a reason why the western tanks and armoured vehicles are getting heavier
Take the example of chalanger mk 2 tank
Weights 63 tons ,it has a very similar tank gun to our beloved Arjun, one of the best protected tanks in the world
Also leopard and Abrams weight all of these tanks weight more than 60 tons still they are excellent performers
Tot and cost factors in this case must be the deciding factors otherwise pz2000 is the best in its class
It can fire 12 rounds a minute and support 5 rounds in MRSI mode automatically
Gun loading,clearing,and laying is fully automatic!
But still I am happy with k 9 ,I would've been more happy if something indigenous filled the slot just like other artillery pieces recently inducted
There was a reason to why the indigenous artillery was ignored partially because of it not being mature enough and partially it being a product of indias public defense sector.
The k9 will allow indias private industy to mature in the field of artillery pieces .
Lets face it indias public defense sector is utterly incompetent in absorbing such experience and tech.
Hmm i agree , our public R&D sucks ,but the private sector is another way out of this problem ,that's why government is trying to bring them into the game
Maybe in a few years we can see them participating in almost every defence related program
