Arjun Main Battle Tank (Mk-1 & Mk-2)

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Ministry of Defence​

MoD places supply order for 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mk-1A for Indian Army​


Posted On: 23 SEP 2021 5:54PM by PIB Delhi
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Key Highlights:
  • DRDO-developed new variant of MBT to enhance firepower, mobility & survivability
  • Order worth Rs 7,523 crore
  • 72 new features & more indigenous content compared to Mk-1
  • To open defence manufacturing avenue for 200 Indian vendors & create 8,000 jobs
Ministry of Defence (MoD) placed an order with Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, Chennai for supply of 118 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army on September 23, 2021. The order, worth Rs 7,523 crore, will provide further boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative in defence sector and is a big step towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. It may be recalled that the Prime Minister had handed over the MBT Arjun Mk-1A to Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane in Chennai on February 14, 2021.

The state–of-the-art MBT Mk-1A is a new variant of Arjun Tank designed to enhance fire power, mobility and survivability. Infused with 72 new features and more indigenous content from the Mk-1 variant, the tank would ensure effortless mobility in all terrains, besides precise target engagement during day and night. It has been designed and developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) by incorporating numerous upgrades on Arjun MBT, the in-service main battle tank with the Indian Army.

The MK-1A is equipped with accurate & superior firepower, all-terrain mobility and an invincible multi-layered protection provided by an array of advanced technology systems. It can take on the enemy during day & night conditions and in both static & dynamic modes. By virtue of these capabilities, this indigenous MBT proves to be at par with any contemporary in its class across the globe. This tank is particularly configured and designed for Indian conditions and hence it is suitable for deployment to protect the frontiers in an effective manner.

This production order to HVF, Avadi opens up a large avenue in defence manufacturing for over 200 Indian vendors including MSMEs, with employment opportunities to around 8,000 people. This will be a flagship project showcasing the indigenous capability in cutting edge defence technologies.

The MBT Arjun Mk-1A has been designed & developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), along with other laboratories of DRDO within two years (2010-12). The development activities commenced from June 2010 and the tank was fielded for user trials in June 2012. It took only two years to develop and field the MBT Arjun Mk-1A for user trials from the user requirement. Extensive trial evaluation was conducted in various phases covering 7000+ kms (both in DRDO and user trials) of automotive and substantial firing of various ammunitions during 2012-2015.

MoD places supply order for 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mk-1A for Indian Army
 
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randomradio said:
That's actually what the FRCV is about. The issue is about controlling weight while bringing in all those technologies and even more. We also need greater firepower than what the 120mm allows.
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Yup...
World is moving to 140-145mm guns on Futuristic battle tanks. And yes we need to go for composite structures to bring down weight to below 50tonnes. If we are able to do it then we will have a kickass FICV tank...
 
Ashwin said:
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Excellent work @KUNAL BISWAS
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Laser Warning & Counter Measures System is a Passive protection system not an Active protection system. Active protection is hardkill ability against ATGMs, HEAT, HESH, APFSDS rounds. We were working on an active protection system for the Arjun. The Mk-1A will probably get it during upgrades.

Whatever tank comes after the Mk-1A (NGMBT or Mk-2) will have the APS.
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Gautam said:
Laser Warning & Counter Measures System is a Passive protection system not an Active protection system. Active protection is hardkill ability against ATGMs, HEAT, HESH, APFSDS rounds. We were working on an active protection system for the Arjun. The Mk-1A will probably get it during upgrades.

Whatever tank comes after the Mk-1A (NGMBT or Mk-2) will have the APS.
View attachment 21133
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APS is divided into hard-kill and soft-kill. While the Arjun lacks a hard-kill system at this time, the system still qualifies to be called APS.
 
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lcafanboy said:
Yup...
World is moving to 140-145mm guns on Futuristic battle tanks. And yes we need to go for composite structures to bring down weight to below 50tonnes. If we are able to do it then we will have a kickass FICV tank...
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Our future MBT is going to have to be far more advanced than the Mk1A in every way possible, primarily in terms of crew survivability. Hopefully by the time the Mk1A finishes delivery in 2028, we will see the FRCV getting into the LRIP phase, although I feel that's unrealistic and we may see further induction of 2 more regiments as stop gap.
 
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randomradio said:
Our future MBT is going to have to be far more advanced than the Mk1A in every way possible, primarily in terms of crew survivability. Hopefully by the time the Mk1A finishes delivery in 2028, we will see the FRCV getting into the LRIP phase, although I feel that's unrealistic and we may see further induction of 2 more regiments as stop gap.
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On FRCV ...IA lost somewhere in between indigenous, Russian, and Private joint ventures. L&T FRCV will be a better product since it will deliver on time with more than 60% of indigenous content but the weight will be a concern since IA requirements are tailormade for Russian tanks.
 
TARGET said:
On FRCV ...IA lost somewhere in between indigenous, Russian, and Private joint ventures. L&T FRCV will be a better product since it will deliver on time with more than 60% of indigenous content but the weight will be a concern since IA requirements are tailormade for Russian tanks.
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Weight won't be a concern as long as the IA opts for an autoloader.

TARGET said:
why not get the TROPHY from Isreal put on our new infantry vechile.

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Apparently, all hard-kill APS systems available for export have failed to garner interest from the IA. They have sent out an EoI for 818 APS systems for the T-90 meant to be procured under IDDM.
 
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randomradio said:
APS is divided into hard-kill and soft-kill. While the Arjun lacks a hard-kill system at this time, the system still qualifies to be called APS.
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What was the Passive protection system then ? Armour & signature management ?

I forgot the generic classification system for tank systems, generations of tanks etc.
 
Gautam said:
What was the Passive protection system then ? Armour & signature management ?
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Under soft-kill, passive systems are RAM paints, smoke, Nakidka type cloaking, chaff, flares etc. Active systems are laser and RF jamming.

Gautam said:
I forgot the generic classification system for tank systems, generations of tanks etc.
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The old classification for tanks used during WW2 is meaningless now.

The generation classification is for universal tanks or MBTs. So the first gen is the T-55 (multirole capabilities, hence universal), second is T-72 (night-fighting, higher caliber gun), third is T-90 (composite armour, TIs, computers), 4th is the T-14 (not fully defined yet). 4th gen would need crew pods, unmanned turret, higher calibre guns or even ETC guns, more advanced modular armour, unmanned capability, hybrid engines, intelligent suspensions, modular construction, AI etc.

There's also the modernised 3rd gen tanks, basically 3rd gen tanks with some 4th gen capabilities, primarily with advanced communications, navigation and countermeasures, like the Arjun Mk1A. With the exception of the Turks, NATO is in this category. Russia, Japan, SoKo and Turkey have gone ahead with 4th gen designs. Turkey basically licenses SoKo's K-2 with their own tech.
 
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randomradio said:
Actually this tank will make or break DRDO's FMBT dreams in 4-5 years.
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Got to give credit to GoI for their policies of breaking the monopoly of DPSUs. The laziness of DPSUs and corrupt+inefficient bureaucracy-military nexus is being broken. Corruption will not go but major slippages will reduce. This will force more effective and competitive systems (govt led and/or private led) to flourish.
vstol Jockey said:
This tank will do wonders in Rajasthan sector once the hard kill option is used. I am sure that the second batch will come equipped with such system.
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Heard that their VT-4 is good but the numbers are too less. Once the T90S are upgraded to T90MS levels our tank force will be pretty much overwhelming against Pakistan.
 
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