L&T and Hanwa Techwin of South Korea to deliver artillery guns to Indian Army

[Laozi]

L&T and Hanwa Techwin of South Korea to deliver artillery guns to Indian Army

Indian engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Hanwa Techwin of South Korea signed a contract on Friday to manufacture the K9 Vajra-T tracked, self propelled artillery guns for the Indian Army.

The K9 has been shortlisted by the Army after extensive trials and it got the final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently. The formal contract with the Government is expected in the next few days.

The procurement process began in January 2011 when the Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued under the Buy Global category.

The deal estimated at around Rs. 4,600 crore is for 100 guns and is likely to expand further. Deliveries will begin in 18 months and completed in 42 months.

Vajra-T is a 155mm, 52 caliber self propelled artillery gun with a maximum range of 40km. It is an upgraded variant of the original K9 Thunder gun. The fire control system has been customised for desert conditions as per requirements of the Indian Army.

As per agreement, the first 10 guns will be imported from South Korea and the rest would be manufactured by L&T in India.

L&T said in a statement that the first 10 guns would be manufactured at L&T facility at Talegon near Pune. L&T is setting up a green field manufacturing facility at Hazira in Gujarat.

This is the second major deal for artillery guns concluded by the Army recently. Last year India signed a deal for 145 Ultra-Light Howitzers with the US under the Foreign Military Sales program.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...llery-guns-to-indian-army/article18180322.ece

 

[Laozi]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/busin...zer-to-army/story-M6vfMRqiadPORVCYL7jeSI.html

L&T signs deal with S Korea’s HTW to supply howitzer to army
BUSINESS Updated: Apr 21, 2017 13:55 IST





Engineering conglomerate Larsen and Toubro inked a deal with South Korean defence major Hanwha Techwin (HTW) on Friday to jointly manufacture over 100 self- propelled howitzers for Indian Army at a cost of nearly Rs 4,500 crore.

The first batch of the 155mm/52 Cal Tracked Self Propelled (SP) gun -- K9 VAJRA-T -- will be delivered later this year and the entire supply will be made within a span of 42 months.

While 10 guns will be directly brought from South Korea, 90 will be manufactured in L&T’s Strategic Systems Complex in Talegaon near Pune.

The K9 VAJRA-T gun is an enhanced version of HTW’s K9 Thunder which is known as one of the best performing self- propelled howitzers in the world.

At a function to sign the deal, South Korea’s Minister for Defence Acquisition Chang Myoung Jin said his country would like to significantly expand defence ties with India as envisaged during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Seoul in 2015.

“Today, we have taken our defence partnership to a new high,” he said.

Jayant Patil, Head of Defence and Aerospace at L&T, said the programme has set a new benchmark in co-development and co-production of defence systems by Indian private sector defence players and foreign majors.

“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 programme but also for upcoming Indian and global programmes,” said Patil.

He did not rule out exporting K9 VAJRA-T to other countries.

L&T also has initiated the process for setting up a greenfield manufacturing line at Gujrat’s Hazira to produce K9 VAJRA-T guns.

Patil said L&T will not only manufacture K9 VAJRA-T in India, with over 50% indigenous content, but also provide life support to the army with the weapon.

L&T said the contract is a result of nearly a decade long close relationship and joint efforts of the two companies on the programme, through extensive user evaluation and field trials followed by contract negotiations with the Ministry of Defence.

Addressing the gathering, South Korean envoy Cho Hyun said a new government will assume charge in South Korea by early May and hoped defence ties between India and his country will deepen further.

He also referred to the latest nuclear test by North Korea, saying his country has a troubled neighbour due to which South Korea has to focus majorly on defence preparedness.

 

[BHarwana]

India's Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed a contract with South Korea's Hanwha Techwin on 21 April to supply K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) for the Indian Army (IA), L&T said in a statement.

The gun is an enhanced version of Hanwha Techwin's K9 Thunder SPH designed to suit specific requirements of the IA.

L&T had been declared the sole qualified bidder post user evaluation trials based on the performance of the K9 Vajra-T, which is to be customised and produced by L&T with Hanwha Techwin as the technology partner, according to the statement.

India's Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the procurement of 100 of these SPHs in late March.

http://www.janes.com/article/69761/...wha-techwin-to-supply-k9-sphs-for-indian-army

 

[SDS1]

In a five month period that has given India’s heavy gun modernisation agenda two deals after three whole decades of a crippling post-Bofors paralysis, the idea of Make in India has definitely acquired some sheen. In November last year, the Indian government, after years in suspense, concluded a deal with the BAE Systems-Mahindra partnership to build M777 ultra-light guns in India. On Friday, another Indian private sector giant L&T formally entered into a partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Techwin for India’s second big gun deal. The deal has already created its share of buzz for what is being seen as a record of sorts.

The first lot of the of the 100 K9 VAJRA-T tracked, self-propelled artillery gun will be delivered to the Indian Army within the next 11 months. This will not only boost the firepower of strike formations in the plains and the desert but also mark the quickest procurement or a major weapon system for the Indian military. The time frame of under six years from global tendering to contract is revolutionary for India’s defence procurement process which is notorious for its glacial pace.

A partnership signing ceremony here today between L&T and South Korean Hanwha Techwin for executing the programme set the stage for the inking of the Rs 4,600 crore (710.86m USD) contract with the Ministry of Defence which is expected next week. The Cabinet Committee on Security has already approved this deal. The 155 mm, 52 calibre guns will be supplied by L&T, with Hanwha Techwin as the technology partner. All 100 guns will be supplied in under 42 months from the signing of the contract.

The deal also marks the arrival of South Korea as a major defence supplier to India. Korean Defence Acquisition and Production Minister Chang MYoung-Jin was present at this ceremony on a day that the two countries also announced an Inter-Governmental MoU for cooperation in military shipbuilding.

The deal envisages 50 per cent indigenous content. “(Of the 100 guns) 90 will be assembled in India. The first lot of 10 will be built in Korea with 80-to-90 per cent Korean content,” disclosed Hanwha Techwin CEO Shin Hyun-Woo at Friday’s signing ceremony with L&T. The final assembly of the first lot will be at L&T’s Strategic Systems Complex at Talegaon near Pune in Maharashtra. India’s largest private sector defence and aerospace company will produce and assemble the remaining 90 at a greenfield manufacturing line at Hazira in Gujarat which will also have a state-of-the-art test track and facilities to test and qualify the K9 VAJRA-T guns.

“We hope to deliver the first gun this financial year,” announced Jayant Patil, L&T’s head of Defence and Aerospace. His confidence stems from the “co-development” of a prototype for field trials within 18 months of the RFP being floated.This has set new deadline benchmarks for fielding a prototype with foreign assistance to meet Indian GSQRs, claimed Patil. “This programme shows the way forward. Two years is enough time to develop a weapon system,” he said. “There were 13 Indian systems in this prototype,” said Patil. The VAJRA-T is a variant of the highly successful K9 Thunder modified for Indian conditions. One thousand K9 Thunder guns have already been sold thus far.

Significantly, the most critical parts of the gun – the barrel and breach – will be imported. “It’s not viable to produce the barrels in India for an order of just 100 guns. We can make this happen in larger programmes like towed guns,” said Patil, claiming that a capability to produce nuclear-grade steel makes barrel production for artillery guns a distinct possibility for L&T.

The L&T-produced indigenous systems on the gun will include the fire control system, hull, turret, electronics, NBC systems, auto loaders, air conditioning and direct fire systems. The VAJRA-T was declared the sole qualified gun after user evaluation trials at Pokhran. The Russian competitor could not meet the requirements. Among the 13 Indian systems on the winning prototype was a fire control system to cater to a huge mix of Indian ammunition.

The deal is being described as a “step higher than licensed production”. “It will be an Indian product made made in an Indian factory,” claimed the L&T executive.

Korean Minister MYoung-Jin described the gun deal as a milestone which would provide “momentum to Make in India and the strategic defence cooperation between the two countries”.

 

[Tshering22]

Korean Minister MYoung-Jin described the gun deal as a milestone which would provide “momentum to Make in India and the strategic defence cooperation between the two countries”.

South Korea is a powerful R&D base. They have excellent ties with us and don't interfere in our matters.

I don't know but we need to aggressively push for more JVs with Korean firms. They will not only have a strong market in their reach but we will also have the advantage of a reliable friendly partner who can, once we have significant military ties, even help us in our R&D developments.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

So, India has another defence armour producer. Comes with the assembly line, plus the testing facilities. Even better, managed by L&T.​

India will have another armour producer under most likely the TATAs, with the FICV program. Defence and aero sector is opening up in a good speed. 10-20 years, will see significant changes.

 

[cerberus]

Indian Will go another 100 after First Batch Will procured

 

[el nino]

Very nice
Addition to Indian army

But why only 100 India probably needs 300

 

[cerberus]

these are Two guns coming this year M777 Along With dhanush Howitzer Each gun has probability to hit target beyond 40+Km.Brexit effect and BAE is eager to sell over 500 these ultralight guns under MII

 

[ssethii]

Fast and India sounds almost like an oxymoron.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Fast and India sounds almost like an oxymoron.

Actually, look at programs under private sector ATAGS, Kestrel with Bharat Forge/TATA, and TATA motors with DRDO as the tech provider, it was prototyped, trialed very quickly. I wouldn't underestimate companies like L&T, either. Even if they are jumping into this sector.

 

[cerberus]

DRDO ATAGS going good in trials

 

[Kompromat]

So the DRDO failed again to deliver.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

So the DRDO failed again to deliver.

There are no SPG program. DRDO is doing a great job actually with Bharat Forge, TATA SED Power on the new 155mm/52Cal program. They can fit this eventually on to a tracked platform later. OFB is also going to mount it's Dhanush 52 on wheeled and tracked platforms. This is however, just starting.

Regardless. K9, along with L&T's new armoured plant, is a phenomenal and needed addition.

 

[cerberus]

So the DRDO failed again to deliver.

Janaab DRDO already has order of Dhanush 155/45 cal under which order of 10 guns delivered

Order of 114 more will be deivered in next 1-2 years

Drdo Atags which dhanush 155/52 is already in user trials

Production will start in end of next year on wards