New Delhi: Indian private firm L&T, along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has completed the initial internal trials of the indigenous light tank called ‘Zorawar’, rolled out in less than 24 months from date of sanction.
The tank has completed the track trials at L&T’s heavy engineering plant at Hazira, Gujarat, defence sources said.
Sources told ThePrint that the tanks did undergo initial track trials after which certain upgrades were suggested and done.
The tank will now go for desert trials in coordination with the Army and eventually for trials in high altitude areas of Ladakh to test its capability to operate in such terrain and extreme winters. If all goes well, the tanks could be inducted into the Indian Army as early as by 2027.
The tank has been developed for Army’s Project Zorawar — the induction of indigenous light tanks for quicker deployment and movement in high altitude areas.
The Army is looking at procuring about 350 light tanks with a maximum weight of 25 tonnes — with a margin of 10 percent — with the same firepower as its regular tanks.
It wants these tanks to be armed with artificial intelligence (AI), integration of tactical surveillance drones to provide a high degree of situational awareness and loitering munition, along with an active protection system.
These tanks, which are also amphibious, have been developed to counter Chinese deployment of a large number of similar armoured columns along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Sources said that while L&T was already working on a light tank concept, it had moved a proposal to the DRDO in 2021 for joint development to meet the Indian Army’s requirement.
This development phase, sources said, is the fastest for such a product in India.
The Narendra Modi government had in March, 2022 given its in-principle approval for the indigenous design and development of light tanks for mountain warfare.
The Army is planning to procure around 350 light tanks in a phased manner and will form nearly six regiments.
Through the light tanks, Army aims to sharpen its edge in mountain warfare by exploiting the limited space available in mountainous terrains by way of enhanced mobility and additional firepower.
During the ongoing Ladakh stand-off, the Army had deployed its existing heavier T-90, T-72 tanks and infantry combat vehicles in eastern Ladakh.
The Russian-origin tanks weigh anywhere between 40-50 tonnes. The latest version of the Arjun tank weighs 68.5 tonnes.
Army’s technical specification for the tank states that its physical dimensions should not come in the way of them being transported by air, road or water.
The Army requires the tank to be all-weather capable and be able to target tanks, armoured vehicles, UAVs, and precision guided munitions, among others.
The Zorawar is also supposed to have anti-aircraft and ground role centric weapons besides advanced multipurpose smart munitions and gun tube launched anti-tank guided missiles.
The Army has also asked for the light tank to have long range for identifying enemy targets, thermal night fighting capability and stealth features, such as the ability to suppress visual, audio/acoustic, thermal and electromagnetic signatures.
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India has used light tanks in the past
The Army has, in the past, successfully employed light tanks in various battle engagements.
These deployments include the Stuart tanks of the 254 Indian Tank Brigade in the Battle of Kohima in World War II, at Naushera, Jhangar, Rajauri, and, most successfully, at Zoji La in the Indo-Pak War 1947-48.
The AMX-13 tanks were deployed at Chushul and Bomdila in 1962 and in Chamb in 1965.
The amphibious PT-76 light tanks were deployed successfully in 1971, with them leading the race to Dacca (now Dhaka in Bangladesh).
The AMX-13 and PT-76 tanks were phased out in the 1980s and, by then, the focus of the Army shifted primarily to the western borders, resulting in the conversion of PT-76 units to the T-72 profile.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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