The Zorawar has been designed to have a high power-to-weight ratio along with substantial firepower, protection, surveillance and communication capabilities. The Zorawar is tasked to provide versatility to execute operations in varying terrain against diverse threats and equipment profiles of its adversaries.[14] The tank is named for the 19th century Dogra General Zorawar Singh.[15]
However, the Indian Army did not operate any light tank after the AMX-13 and PT-76 was retired from active service by 1989 and subsequently the PT-76 from reserved status in 2009.[18][19]
India had taken several programmes since 1982 to develop an indigenous light tank to replace ageing light tanks. But the programmes failed.[19][17]
India's armoured inventory consists of main battle tanks like the T-72, T-90, Arjun Mk1 and Arjun Mk1A which weighs within the range 43–68t (95,000–150,000lb) and has a lower power to weight ratio which is unsuitable for deployment in high-altitude regions like Ladakh. By 2021, the Indian Army had deployed a squadron of 12 T-90 tanks as well as a K9 Vajra-T-equipped regiment during the conflict.[21][22] By 2023, over 90 tanks and 330 BMP-2 s were deployed to the region.[23] But the rarefied air, lower air pressure reduces the effectiveness of conventional armoured fighting vehicles (like MBT, IFV or Self-propelled Howitzer) in such regions which face logistical and operational challenges. Such deployments required design changes and additional logistics pressures. In fact, the vehicles needed to switch on engine for up to 30 minutes every two to three hours to prevent engine freezing.[19][24]
Armoured vehicle require specific design modifications to operate at such regions. Such operationa demands could e easily fulfilled by light tanks. The PLAGF had deployed their Type 15 light tanks in the Ladakh region during the standoff for the reason.[25][26]
The lack of an equivalent light tank led the Indian Army to initiate a new Indian Light Tank programme which resulted in Project Zorawar.[19][27]
A Cockerill 105 mm HP Gun made by Belgian company John Cockerill
Zorawar is a 3-crew, 25-tonne light tank with amphibious capabilities. The tank will have a high power-to-weight ratio and can be transported by air, rail or road. The light tank has superior firepower, protection, surveillance and communication capabilities. The tank is designed to destroy armoured vehicles, low-flying helicopters, and bunkers.[28]
Zorawar is to be equipped with a 105 mm calibre gun turret procured from John Cockerill of Belgium.[3]
The tank is also equipped with autoloader and a remote-controlled 7.62mm calibre machine gun. The tank can launch anti-tank guided missiles from the main gun as well as a twin side-mounted launcher on the left side.[8][29]
The Zorawar tank prototype utilises a Cummins VTA903E-T760 engine which generates a power output of 760hp (570kW).[6][7][8]
When sanctioned in April 2023, Zorawar was supposed to be powered by an 800hp engine supplied by the German firm MTU, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.[3][19]
However, MTU could not deliver the engine until November 2023 though the engine was ready to be delibered by October 2022 due to tough German export control regime. Following this, the developers switched to the American-origin Cummins engine. Larsen & Toubro purchased an engine directly from Cummins. The government also plans to ask engine manufacturer to set up an assembly or production line in India if the engine is chosen to power the production variant of the 354 tanks.[6]
Reports in July 2024 also suggested that Rolls-Royce has delivered MTU 8V199 engine for the light tank project. The DRDO is also working on a project to develop an indigenous engine for production. DRDO is also developing an in-house engine alternative for use on the tank.[30][31]
Transmission
During the development of the Zorawar program, the transmission would be chosen between the Renk of Germany and British firm Allison.[32] The prototype is equipped with the HMPT series transmission from RENK America,[33][10] a subsidiary of Renk in the United States.
The prototype of Zorawar light tank is equipped with a RENK America's HMPT-800 transmission,[10][11] an advanced hydrostatic/mechanical continuously variable transmission first used in the U.S. Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program.
Development
In August 2020, Russia offered 2S25 Sprut-SD light tanks to the Indian Army which was being evaluated. Indian Army also observed the performance of the tank during trials in June 2021.[34][35][36]
On 23 April 2021, the Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Information (RFI) to the industry for the requirement of 350 light tanks weighing about 25t (55,000lb) each. The tanks were required to be equipped for anti-armour, anti-air and anti-ground roles. The tanks were also required to be air transportable.[38][26]
On 3 March 2022, the Government gave in-principle approval for indigenous design and development of the Indian Light Tank for mountain warfare. The procurement is to be done under the 'Make-I' acquisition (Government-funded) category of the Defense Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020, in line with the "Make in India" initiative.[39][40][36]
In September 2022, the Army finalised the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) and approached the Ministry of Defence for the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN).[41][42] It was also confirmed that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been selected as the development partner of the Indian Light Tank which is to be rolled out by 2023.[43]
On 18 October 2022, the concept of the tank was unveiled during DefExpo 2022.[44][28]
The project cost that was sanctioned stood at ₹234.5 crore (US$27million). The project cost included the design and development of the tank and realisation of one prototype. The project included Larsen & Toubro as the lead systems integrator and several MSME s.[45]
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) received the order to build the prototype in April 2023. The development will include the expertise gained from the development of DRDO Light Tank and L&T's K9 Thunder production. The initial speculation of using the K9 chassis for the tank was negated out as that would increase the weight to at least 34 tonnes against the requirement of 25 tonnes.[3]
As per reports in April 2023, inspite of the fact that the Army will initially procure of 354 units, the numbers may increase to 700 units in later stages.[46]
The Russo-Ukrainian War has reportedly caused supply chain chokepoints for defense components, specifically electrical, electronic, and engine components, delaying projects, according to an August 2023 report by The New Indian Express.[47]
In November 2023, it was reported that the prototype is in the final stages of manufacturing at L&T’s AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex at Hazira, Gujarat and was expected to begin track trials by year-end. Then, the Army and DRDO would decide whether to procede with the following desert trails and winter trials in Ladakh.[6]
On 7 July 2024, the first prototype of the tank was officially unveiled at the Heavy Engineering Complex of Larsen & Toubro. The roll out was done within 19 months of sanctioning the project. By then, the track trials were completed and certain design changes were made as per suggestions. The tank would now go for desert trials with the Army, followed by high-altitude trials in Ladakh. As per the current timeline, the tank will be inducted by 2027.[16][48] The realisation of the first prototype was also revealed to the Parliament by the Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on 26 July 2024.[45]
On 6 January 2025, it was reported that the production of second prototype has commenced at L&T's Hazira facility.[49]
Trials
Zorawar LT firing main gun during preliminary automotive trials
In January 2024, developmental or track trials of the tank prototypes began in Hazira, Gujarat, at the L&T facility where the prototypes were built. It is expected that the prototypes will be handed over to the Army by April 2024.[50]
On September 13, 2024, DRDO successfully completed the Zorawar LT's preliminary automotive trials at Mahajan Field Firing Range near Bikaner.[51] In the desert terrain during the field trials, the light tank performed exceptionally well, effectively achieving all of the targeted goals. During the first phase, the tank met the necessary accuracy on pre-designated targets after undergoing a thorough evaluation of its firing performance.[52] According to the sources, the most important factor for a tank is precision, also known as FRHP (First Round Hit Probability) in technical parlance because it is necessary to hit the adversary first in modern warfare.[53][54] The September trials was termed as the Phase 1 or Desert Trials of Zorawar.[13]
As per a report in October 2024, the next trials shall include missile firing. The developmental trials would be concluded by January 2025 after which the tank will be handed over to the Army for user trials. The user trials will take 12 to 18 months as the Army will test the tank's performance in summer, winter and high-altitude conditions. DRDO maintains that the tank will be inducted by 2027.[55]
Zorawar LT was airlifted by Indian Air Force for high altitude trials
As of December 2024, the prototype is undergoing high-altitude trials in Nyoma, Ladakh at altitudes of over 4,200m (13,800ft). The tank successfully fired multiple rounds during the trials. The trials are being conducted under the criteria of its firepower, mobility and protection. The tank is also aimed to be amphibious for deployment in riverine regions, including the Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. The tank was airlifted to the high-altitude location by the Indian Air Force.[56][57]
The user trials of Zorawar tank by the Army will start in 2025.[58]
Orders
By April 2023, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has also approved seven light tank regiments. Of this one regiment is to be delivered by Larsen & Toubro and the rest from another firm through competitive bidding process.[3]
An initial order for 59 tanks has been placed, which will be produced by Larsen & Toubro. The Indian Army will also be holding a competition for buying 295 light tanks, in which the Zorawar tank will take part in.[50][25] According to reports that emerged in May 2024, Bharat Forge is also developing a light tank under 25 tonnes to compete with L&T's Zorawar Tank in the Army's light tank programme.[59]
The purchase for a total of 354 tanks is expected to cost ₹17,500 crore (US$2.0billion). The first batch of 59 batch is "reserved" for DRDO which includes L&T as the lead systems integrator. The rest of 295 tanks will be ordered and manufactured under Make-1 government funded category after a tendering process which will include L&T.[60]
As per a report in November 2024, the user trials by the Army in 2025 is to be followed by selection of 2 private companies for their prototype development based on Zorawar under the Futuristic Light Tank programme. Eventually, one of the designs will be selected for mass production after competitive trials.[58]
The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army. The tank is named after Arjuna, the archer prince who is the main protagonist of the Indian epic poem Mahabharata. Design work began in 1986 and was finished in 1996. The Arjun main battle tank entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The 43rd Armoured Regiment, formed in 2009, was the first regiment to receive the Arjun.
Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. It is also called India's Grad missile system as it's characteristics are derived from the BM-21 Grad. The system has a maximum range of 45 km (28 mi) for Mark-I Enhanced and 90 km (56 mi) for Mark-II ER version, and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets per launcher in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising Pakistani positions on the mountain tops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers.
The GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri is an afterburning turbofan project under development by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru, India. An Indian design, the Kaveri was originally intended to power production models of the HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. However, the Kaveri programme failed to satisfy the necessary technical requirements on time and was officially delinked from the Tejas programme in September 2008.
The HAL Prachand is an Indian multi-role light attack helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Project Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). It has been ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army's Aviation Corps (AAC). On 3 October 2022, the LCH was formally inducted into the IAF and was officially named "Prachand".
Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located at Avadi, in Chennai, India. It is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of armoured fighting vehicles, Tanks, Automotive electronics and many other.
Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Bengaluru, its primary function is research and development of aero gas-turbines for military aircraft. As a spin-off effect, GTRE has been developing marine gas-turbines also.
Abhay was an Infantry Combat Vehicle created under a tech-demonstration program started in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO. As its first IFV project, Abhay was designed to provide experience in the construction of AFV components to DRDO, serve as a replacement to India's vast BMP fleet used in its Mechanised Infantry Regiments, and serve as a test bed for weapons and systems to be used on future vehicles, as well as to be a reference for the designs of future vehicles.
The DRDO Rustom is a family of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle (UAV) being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the three services, Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, of the Indian Armed Forces. Rustom is derived from the NAL's LCRA developed by a team under the leadership of late Professor Rustom Damania in the 1980s. The UAV will have structural changes and a new engine.
The Kalvari-class submarines, formally classified as the Project-75 submarines (P-75), is a class of diesel-electric attack submarines operated by the Indian Navy (IN). Built by a syndicate of French and Indian shipyards, namely, Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) respectively, the class is an export derivative of the French-origin Scorpène-class submarine, originally designed by Naval Group.
The DRDO light tank is a tracked amphibious light tank developed in India by DRDO. It is based on the "Sarath" chassis, a licensed variant of the Soviet BMP infantry fighting vehicle. It was built by the Ordnance Factory Medak with a French GIAT TS-90 turret and 105 mm gun. This was an experimental vehicle, designed to carry high-caliber weapons without sacrificing mobility.
The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade outdated equipment since the late 1990s to meet modern standards. For that reason, it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 1980s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the air force.
The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a towed 155 mm/52 calibre howitzer that is being developed for the Indian Army by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL).
The DRDO Abhyas is a high-speed expendable aerial target being built by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Armed Forces.
The TATA Kestrel, also known as the IPMV , a variant of DRDO developed WhAP, is a family of armoured personnel carriers developed by Tata Advanced Systems and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was developed to replace Soviet-era BMP-1 and BMP-2 and APCs in service with the Indian Army.
Project 77 is an Indian Navy acquisition programme to procure nuclear-powered attack submarines. The Government of India, through the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), approved the construction of six of these submarines in February 2015. These will be designed by the Navy's in-house Directorate of Naval Design and built in India at the Ship Building Centre at Visakhapatnam. The construction was expected to commence on 2023-24 while the first submarine is expected to enter service in 2032. However, further and final clearance for initially acquiring 2 nuclear submarines, under the Project 77, was approved by CCS on 10 October 2024.
The Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201 or TAPAS BH-201(Sanskrit: तपस्; lit. Heat) is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed in India by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) on the lines of General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) is a missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army, meant for protecting moving armoured columns from aerial attacks.
Pralay is a canisterised surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. The missile is an amalgamation of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) from the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme, and the Prahaar tactical missile. The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of ₹332.88 crore.
The Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan is a procurement and development plan of the Indian Army. The programme was drafted in 1999 in the aftermath of the Kargil war, emboldened by the success of the 155 mm Bofors guns in its inventory. The programme was slated to replace the weapons of 169 artillery regiments with modern weapon systems, predominantly of 155mm calibre. The procurement involves direct import, manufacture under license, as well as inhouse development of artillery weapon systems.
↑ "Battlefield Protection System"(PDF). Defence Research and Development Organisation. Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
