<span style="color: #222222;">The Army on Friday inducted new artillery guns and equipment, including K9 Vajra and M777 howitzers, at Deolali artillery centre in Nashik district of Maharashtra.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The induction ceremony took place in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Army chief General Bipin Rawat. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">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, while K-9 Vajra is a self-propelled artillery gun. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The induction ceremony here 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. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The M777s, which have been used in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, can be easily transported to high altitude areas by helicopters. </span><br />'' <br />