- The Indian Army on November 9, 2018 inducted new artillery guns and equipment, including K9 Vajra and M777 howitzers.
- Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Army chief General Bipin Rawat attended the induction ceremony which took place at Deolali artillery centre in Nashik district of Maharashtra.
- Besides, M777 American Ultra Light Howitzers and the K-9 Vajra, the third gun system inducted is the ‘Composite Gun Towing Vehicle’ for towing some of the existing guns in service with the country.
- K-9 Vajra is a self-propelled artillery gun.
- The induction ceremony comes ahead of establishing the first regiment- each comprising of about 18 guns- of the M777s and the Vajra by around mid-next year.
- For procuring 145 M777s, India in November 2016 had entered into a contract with the United States under the Foreign Military Sales programme for 5,070 crore rupees.
- The M777s, which have been used in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, can be easily transported to high altitude areas by helicopters.
