Rajnath Singh flags off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun

Hazira, Gujarat: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off 51^st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat on Thursday. The delivery of the howitzer came much ahead of its schedule. Rajnath Singh termed K9 VAJRA-T Gun as the best example of 'Make in India' in Defence. "I have been told that more than 75 per cent of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex. It is a matter of great pride," he said. Singh congratulated L&T for delivering 51 of the 100 orders it received for the howitzer gun ahead of schedule.

"I have been told that more than 75 per cent of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. Over 5,000 people have got direct employment and more than 12,500 indirect employment through this complex. It is a matter of great pride,"- Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

AM Naik, Group Chairman L&T said "Our Defence team has once again demonstrated L&T's engineering and execution prowess in building this most advanced weapon system to the exacting levels of quality while ensuring on-time delivery." The 51^st K9 VAJRA-T howitzer gun will add more firepower and muscle to Indian Amry's already lethal strength.

Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction on his visit to the Armoured System Complex, saying that the facility is a strong example of 'Naye Bharat ki Nayi Soch'. He added that the goal of modernisation and indigenisation in defence under 'Make in India', conceptualised by PM Modi, has started to take shape. He listed out various far-reaching reforms introduced by the Government under the 'Make in India' initiative to achieve $26 billion defence industry by 2025 and provide employment to 2-3 million people. "We wish to create an ecosystem that provides a platform to both public sector and private sector to work together and contribute to nation-building through their strengths and experiences," he added.

"Building Platform Programmes like the K9 Vajra, contribute to the economy with a large multiplier effect and have a significant role in building a national defence industrial base," JD Patil, Senior EVP (Defence & Smart Technologies), L&T

"Our Government is open to new ideas and is determined to use the energy, entrepreneurship spirit and enterprise of the private industry in the defence sector," the minister said. He assured that the Government will make all efforts to remove any roadblocks and work together to achieve the goal of indigenisation and self-reliance in the defence sector.

"Building Platform Programmes like the K9 Vajra, contribute to the economy with a large multiplier effect and have a significant role in building a national defence industrial base," said JD Patil, Senior EVP (Defence & Smart Technologies) and Member of the Board, L&T.