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Tanks have always been vulnerable, just because something is vulnerable doesn't mean it's obsolete otherwise Infantry would have been the first to go obsolete, it's the most vulnerable target on the battlefield that can be taken out by a 2 dollar bullet, yet it's still there on the battlefieldThe Russia Ukraine war has shown us how vulnerable tanks are, especially to drones. Something costing a few thousand dollars can destroy something costing millions, without putting a human in harm's way.
Tanks were obsolete from the moment they were conceived yet they are still here.I think that tanks had their time. That time started with WWs and ended with Russia- Ukraine conflict.
Just ask yourself this question before declaring tanks obsolete, If not a tank then what else, what are you going to replace it with, what other platform can perform it's role better.
Here's a good video on the topic
They are not the first one to do so, ATGM's did that first but tanks are still here aren't theyDrones seem to have completely turned tanks into a vulnerable piece of expensive tech with not much of usage.
By C-UAS systems like Anti Drone Jammers and Airburst Ammo, drones aren't some sort of holy grail you are making it to be.How is one going to defend such tanks against very small drones, that can’t be shot down by AD systems
I will ask you the same question Again what are you going to replace it with, what other platform can perform it's role better.Can tanks contribute to a war effort or become a liability?
Infantry is the most vulnerable thing on the battlefield since the invention of warfare yet it has not been replaced even now do you know why, because we are yet to find its replacement
Those ATGM are effective against IFV, APC too but that does not mean these platform have become obsolete too.More infantery with ATGM seems more effective than building/buying more tanks
Tanks just like IFVs and APCs have a certain role at the battlefield unless you can fill that role with something better those platforms are here to stay.
So that they can be decimated by a 12 gaugeShowing of military presence by using drones with mounted machine guns or grenades or other suitable weapons may be the way to go.
According to some news portals Zorawar is supposed to have a anti drone CUAS in it's final configuration.Anti drone system inside a tank is not visible according to you ? There likely should be small radar now inside any modern tank or within 10 tanks there should be one mobile radar vehicle driving along them
A mobile Anti Drone tracked Vehicle is seems to be the next addition to Armoured Columns
Soft kill CUASThe enemy uses swarm tactics. Even a hundred drones against one tank is hugely cost disproportionate.
If I am not wrong there are plans to have a integrated CUAS on our upcoming FMBT,Many Indian companies are making anti-drone systems and shouldn’t be difficult to mount one. Has one been put on Zorawar? I don’t know.
And according to Alpha Defence there are plans to put a similar CUAS on the next variant of Zorawar
There are multiple types of CUAS system.With AI coming in, a drone can be programmed to completely shut down itself from any radio interference after it has archived a lock and is in attack mode. Would anti drone system work in such a case?
what you are describing can protect the drones from radio interference based CUAS but against other CUAS systems like microwave, etc
I would suggest the opposite.. It may be a good idea to go back and deploy small caliber guns with accurate targeting methods to take down cheap drones
A 30mm programmable Airburst round will be the best method to take down "Cheap Drones"
Shotgun, you are describing a 12 gauge shotgunPut small guns with low caliber but extremely accurate targeting method to fire cheap rounds and destroy small drones at close ranges.
Those drones you are mentioning are neither cheap nor small (they have an antenna the size of a TV Dish) , they will be shot down by a AD system before even reaching the battlefieldDrones could be stationed remotely, at forward bases. To be activated and controlled from Beijing. Isnt that what the US does with their Reapers etc in Afghanistan and Pakistan
No, A bigger but incompetent army got beaten black and blue by a smaller and nimble adversary.smaller adversary closed the odds to superior armour, infantry and artillery
Tanks after WWII have always been sitting ducks. They are too heavy, too visible and too slow on the battlefield
Yet they are still here on the battlefield and will stay here for the foreseeable futureAfter the standard mines and trenches and barrier methods were done. First there were attack helicopters and planes. Then shoulder launched munitions from mobile foot soldiers in ambush. Now similar unmanned soldiers dropping out of the sky
They will evolve to counter this new threat just like they always have
Finally, someone gets it.And yet, despite all of the above, tanks have stayed relevant in warfare. They are the best way to deliver an artillery punch quickly and efficiently. And punch a hole in the defences for the infantry to take over. I will say thus again, tanks are still relevant, the battlefield tactics and ecosystems need to be adapted.
Drones can take down anything if they aren't countered.
Tanks are still here for a reason.
Drones will not make tanks obsolete they will just force it evolve
Is it the rumoured 1000hp Indigenous EnginePlan is to develop an indigenous light tank engine to replace the Cummins engine eventually
Sadly Not true, The gun is 100% Belgian, The optics is supplied by french Safran for the The FCS and BMS we don't knowRest all is Indian, including the gun, the RCWS, the FCS, the battle management systems, the optics, the loitering munitions that it's going to use, etc
Not to deviate from the main topic of the thread but INSAS was a production failure and not a devlopment failureDon’t be like INSAS.
Main gun is Belgian, We don't have any info about the See through Armour Tech, For all we know it can very well be sourced from China.RCWS from BEL, See Through Armour Tech from Tonbo Imaging, 105mm gun from Bharat Forge (in SP models), 81mm Smoke Grenade from OFB, Design inspired from Abhay (DRDO).
Smoke grenades are extremely basic items, them being Indigenous is not that relevant TBH.
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