Indian light tank Zorawar begins trials, expected to be ready for user tests by April

[DDG-80]

@Pingle @CallSignMaverick @vkdindian @Raj-Hindustani @Faceless @Cryptonian @Guru Dutt @hephaestus

 

[DDG-80]

Eventually, the DRDO decided to power the Zorawar light tank with an indigenous, 750 HP Cummins engine, which would be coupled with a German Renk transmission. If the weight of the Zorawar is kept below 25 tonnes, the power-to-weight ratio will be 30 HP per tonne – meeting the Indian Army’s norms. Furthermore, with the Cummins engine being manufactured in India, the “Make in India” norm would be met.

The turret of the Zorawar light tank presented an even more challenging task. But DRDO officials say that, once it was decided to indigenise the turret, their experience in designing the Arjun tank turret proved invaluable.

Furthermore, designing the 105 mm tank gun proved well within the capabilities of the Kalyani Group. The Pune-based forgings giant is growing its metallurgical expertise, along with its role in developing the indigenous 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System.

With an eye on Ladakh, DRDO begins testing new light tank

www.ajaishukla.com

1000 hp indigenous engine is under trials (on a T-72). As far the as the transmission is considered if the order size is increased then indigenous transmission will be used. Turret will be locally manufactured in India (Most Likely in UP). IDDM requirement is for the design rights

 

[mulj]

wasted money, IFV project for that tonnage with enhanced anti armor capabilities would be more sound option as it could serve in all theaters.

 

[nahtanbob]

New Delhi [India], January 12 (ANI): The development trials of the light tank Zorawar have already started and the DRDO is expected to hand it over to the Indian Army for further testing by April this year.

“The light tank with its new engine has started in our development cum production partner’s facilities. The tank has been moved around for more than 100 kilometres, and it is expected to be given to the Indian Army by April this year,” defence officials told ANI.

The Army has given orders for producing and supplying 59 Zorawar light tanks to DRDO, which is producing them with its partners Larsen and Toubro.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582414190236831745

The light tank was earlier supposed to be delivered to the Indian Army by December for trials in deserts and high-altitude locations but due to engine supply delays from Germany, the project has been delayed.

The Indian Army will also be holding a competition for buying 295 more light tanks under a different programme, for which six to seven firms are offering their light tanks.

The mega project is being fully supported by the Indian Army, which is working with private sector firms to produce world-class weapon systems.


The light tank project is being undertaken by the Indian Army to improve its mobility and manoeuvring abilities in the Ladakh sector, where the Chinese have also brought in their light tanks in large numbers, they said.

To tackle threats from China, the Indian Army mooted the idea of having similar abilities. The project was cleared recently by the Defence Acquisition Council.

DRDO is working with L&T on the project to build the 25-tonne light tank, which would be capable of moving fast and easily in the high mountainous terrain. The project would be undertaken under the Make in India initiative. (ANI)

Indian light tank Zorawar begins trials, expected to be ready for user tests by April

New Delhi [India], January 12 (ANI): The development trials of the light tank Zorawar have already started and the DRDO is expected to hand it over to the Indian Army for further testing by April this year. “The light tank with its new engine has started in our development cum production...

theprint.in

Is this on a BMP-2 chassis ?

 

[DDG-80]

Is this on a BMP-2 chassis ?

no

 

[Pingle]

@Pingle @CallSignMaverick @vkdindian @Raj-Hindustani @Faceless @Cryptonian @Guru Dutt @hephaestus

Too much indigenous and that's great..... with Type 15 China had edge in mountain warfare now Zoravar will answer that.....

 

[BhootPishash]

@Guru Dutt Bhai just see the advancements made by India in field of Tank Design & Manufacturing all the systems except engine & transmission are indigenous.

Hull, Turret, Smooth bore Gun, Auto loader all are indigenous.

And Cummins engines will be made in India.

Sensors can be directly derived from Arjun MK-I & MK-II.

 

[DDG-80]

@Guru Dutt Bhai just see the advancements made by India in field of Tank Design & Manufacturing all the systems except engine & transmission are indigenous.

Hull, Turret, Smooth bore Gun, Auto loader all are indigenous.

And Cummins engines will be made in India.

Sensors can be directly derived from Arjun MK-I & MK-II.

Don’t take Baba Kalyani lightly, that 75 YO guy is very very passionate for defence, his first goal was to make into the artillery, then armoured vehicles ….
They’re also very open for tech adoption for that they understand that it is okay to do some acquisitions.

 

[BhootPishash]

Don’t take Baba Kalyani lightly, that 75 YO guy is very very passionate for defence, his first goal was to make into the artillery, then armoured vehicles ….
They’re also very open for tech adoption for that they understand that it is okay to do some acquisitions.

He is a metallurgy Guy.

Will keep a close eye on his foray into JET ENGINES.

He is investing most into this.

 

[Harbyharb]

I'm not quite sure if this light tank should be perceived as a "light tank" or an assault gun. By definition, tanks are designed to be versatile breakthrough/frontline direct fire support weapons, light tanks included. While they are not expected to engage enemy MBTs or even light tanks, they still require resistance against infantry AT weapon as well as enemy IFVs.

I am somewhat puzzled by the decision to employ the modular Belgium Cockrell 105mm turret. There are a lot of good aspects about it - 3rd generation gunner and commander thermal included in the Safran PASEO fire control system, Cross-wind sensor, optional laser warning receiver, 105HP low recoil gun able to fire Dart, HEAT-FS, and HESH, with the dart round being the M1060CV, which offers 50% chance of penetrating 560mm RHA at 0 degrees at 2km, which allows the tank to challenge all vehicles in the Chinese arsenal except ZTZ-99 and ZTZ-99A.

But the problem is that turret doesn't really allow much for survivability. As standard the turret protection is rated at STANAG 4569 IV, which provides protection against 14.5mm API at 200 meters, with the option for add-on applique armour that bumps the protection up to STANAG 4569 V, which is rated to stop full caliber 25mm API at 500 meters. Given that the layout of the tank is very similar to the Turkish/Indonesian Kaplan MT (which uses the same turret) and is even lighter, I imagine the hull protection can only match the turret at best.

This means Zorawar's protection level is very anemic with China in mind. In top configuration with add-on armour, Zorawar does not offer resistance against PLA's mainline IFVs, both ZBD-04A and ZBL-08 uses 30mm darts/APDS for anti vehicle duties, while in normal configuration, resistance against 14.5mm is overkill, as PLA does not employ 14.5mm HMGs on any vehicles or as squad weapon. On top of that, the Zorawar have no ERA element nor APS system and thus does not offer any protection against Chemical warheads, such as RPGs and ATGMs. On top of that, one of the noted drawback of the Cockrell turret is that it only features 24 round ready rack, which means most likely the Zorawar have to have a secondary hull rack, not an ideal combination with its protection in mind...

An argument can be made that the Zorawar is more intended as an assault gun instead of a light tank, but then I wonder why the indian army doesn't stick to the Sprut-SD instead, which is lighter, readily available, and can make use of existing munition stockpiles...

 

[Bengal71]

You guys have a good truck industry. Can't the Tata, Mahindra, Ashok build a fully indigenous tank engine ?

 

[Harbyharb]

You guys have a good truck industry. Can't the Tata, Mahindra, Ashok build a fully indigenous tank engine ?

The design and construction of high performance diesel is not just a matter of technological input, but also a matter of patent barriers, experience, continuous input, and high level of both metallurgy and chemical engineering. Leapfrogging them is a herculean task. Even if it can be done, it won't be done in short order.

Perhaps more important than the engines is the transmission, which is even more demanding in material wear, manufacturing precision, metallurgy surface treatment, etc. Countries like Russia and South Korea are capable of making decent enough engines, but making transmissions both durable and powerful have been a real hurdle for them even today.

 

[DDG-80]

I am somewhat puzzled by the decision to employ the modular Belgium Cockrell 105mm turret.

Turret will be supplied by Kalyani

The turret of the Zorawar light tank presented an even more challenging task. But DRDO officials say that, once it was decided to indigenise the turret, their experience in designing the Arjun tank turret proved invaluable.
Furthermore, designing the 105 mm tank gun proved well within the capabilities of the Kalyani Group. The Pune-based forgings giant is growing its metallurgical expertise, along with its role in developing the indigenous 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System.

https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/with-an-eye-on-ladakh-drdo-begins-testing-an-indigenous-light-tank-124011500820_1.html

 

[Hybrid]

Still it has long way to go. We know what they did with Arjun

 

[DDG-80]

You guys have a good truck industry. Can't the Tata, Mahindra, Ashok build a fully indigenous tank engine ?