PHOTOS: PM Modi rides K9 Vajra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday boarded a tank while inspecting Larsen and Toubro's Armoured Systems Complex facility at Hazira in Gujarat's Surat for manufacturing high-end guns.

The prime minister shared a brief video of himself standing in a tank on his Twitter handle.

"Checking out the tanks at L&T's Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira," Modi said in the tweet.

The Armoured Systems Complex, which Modi inaugurated earlier in the day, will be the first private facility in the country where the K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns will be manufactured.

L&T had in 2017 won the Rs 4,500-crore contract from the ministry of defence to supply 100 units of K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled gun systems to the Indian Army under the Centre's 'Make in India' initiative.

The company has set up the Armoured Systems Complex at Hazira, around 30km from Surat, to manufacture and integrate advanced armoured platforms, such as self-propelled artillery Howitzers, future infantry combat vehicles, future-ready combat vehicles and future main battle tanks.

WATCH: PM Modi takes a ride in K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer 

The manufacturing complex is executing the 'K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52-caliber tracked self-propelled Howitzer guns' programme.

K9 Vajra contract involves delivery of 100 such systems in 42 months, which is the largest contract awarded to a private company by the ministry of defence.

L&T had signed a transfer of technology contract for guns with South Korean company Hanwha Corporation.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was also present at the inauguration.

Photographs: Press Information Bureau