The Indian Army is transforming the K9 Vajra-T into a more survivable frontline artillery system through layered counter-drone upgrades. A new remote weapon station replaces the manual gun mount and is expected to use airburst rounds against incoming drones. Soft-kill defenses include directional jammers that can break control links or navigation signals. Passive protection features such as removable cage armor are being fitted to reduce the impact of loitering munitions. The howitzer is also being linked with the Army’s Akashteer battle network, enabling early alerts when hostile drone swarms are detected. Together, the upgrades reflect lessons from modern conflicts where artillery units face persistent aerial threats.
