Arjun also they had 1 tank, money is always sanctioned for 1 proto only. Plus if there were more they would have shown in Hazira already.
Zorawar: Light tank for Indian army
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
Very interesting, We should plan to replace the Cockerill Turret.
cost wise too much, it may be useful to have own 105mm turret, which can be used on WhAP too as a combined project
We will have our own turret according to drdo chief.
View attachment zorawar-testing.mp4
First phase of field firing trials of DRDO L&T Zorawar Light Tank was successfully carried out by DRDO.
First phase of field firing trials of DRDO L&T Zorawar Light Tank was successfully carried out by DRDO.
We'll replace the imported turret with an indigenous one.
Is there a DRDO program for light tank or are you just making it up on hopeium?
Just some speculation, take it with a pinch of salt:
I saw a few tenders out last year for 105 mm gun soft-recoil systems. Wondered what those were for. Then found this:
In 2010, OFB decided to make a "new" self-propelled howitzer by mounting a 105 mm Indian Field Gun on a BMP-2 chassis. The Army didn't know what to make of this. Eventually they turned it down. Thus, we saw no more of this SPH.
The 105 mm IFG is unique in that this gun has a sliding block type breech locking mechanism which allows for a higher rate of fire. Typically, a sliding bock mechanism is used on tank guns.
Artillery guns generally use a screw type breech locking mechanism. This allows for significantly higher chamber pressure & thus longer ranges. But this comes at the cost of rate of fire.
If you notice in the photo above the 105 mm field gun retains its original hydro-pneumatic recoil damping system. A hydro-pneumatic damping system is fine choice for a towed artillery system. It is even acceptable on SPH systems, but not on tanks. These damps are too bulky & compromise front-section armor integrity. On tanks a soft-recoil system is preferred.
I think with the soft recoil system DRDO might be trying to convert this turret into a proper light tank turret. Again, this is just speculation on my part. But I think it makes sense.
India’s Light Tank Zorawar Completes 1st Trial by Fire
September 13, 2024 / By Team Livefist
India’s newly unveiled light tank Zorawar has successfully conducted preliminary automotive and firing trials, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) — one half of the public-private partnership developing the platform — said in a statement today. The tank, intended for India’s high-altitude battlefields like Ladakh and the north-east, broke cover in July this year.
“Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on September 13, 2024, successfully conducted the preliminary automotive trials of the Indian light Tank, Zorawar, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas. During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the Light Tank demonstrated exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the intended objectives. In the initial phase, the tank’s firing performance was rigorously evaluated, and it achieved the required accuracy on designated targets,” the statement said.
The Zorawar project, a joint effort of the DRDO and Indian private sector giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is a fast-track effort to give the Indian Army a mountain-ready tank — a capability gap identified during the ongoing India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. While China was able to deploy more agile T-15 tanks in the friction areas, the Indian Army had to depend on its heavier fleet of T-90 Bhishma tanks, vehicles not exactly built for agile operations on slopes.
The Indian Army has said it intends to induct at least 350 Zorawar LT tanks when the platform is ready. All indications are that development trials will lead into user trials this winter with the Indian Army in Ladakh. While the India-China standoff has been frozen without hostilities after several escalations in May-September 2020, the Indian Army sees high altitude theatres being semi-permanent bases for light tank regiments going forward.
The Zorawar isn’t just about direct combat with enemy armor but will also play a critical role in supporting infantry operations. Its ability to navigate tough terrain and provide close support in terms of firepower can be crucial in high-altitude warfare. The Zorawar light tank would enable Indian infantry to operate with greater confidence, knowing they have reliable armored support even in the most challenging environments. Deploying heavy tanks like the T-90 in high-altitude areas has not only been operationally challenging but also expensive in terms of logistics and maintenance. For the Indian Army, the Zorawar light tank should offer a more cost-effective solution, providing the necessary firepower and protection without the logistical burden associated with heavier armor. Its lower weight reduces transportation costs and simplifies the supply chain, making it a more sustainable option for long-term deployment in remote areas.
A previous episode of Livefist founder Shiv Aroor’s weekly television show on defence BattleCry focused on the Zorawar project:
India's Light Tank Zorawar Completes 1st Trial By Fire - Livefist
I thought Army ordered 59 Zorawar tanks to be supplied & wanted to hold a contest for the rest 285 tanks. No mention of the competition by Shiv Aroor. Have they dropped the completion? Or am I reading too much into this.
September 13, 2024 / By Team Livefist
India’s newly unveiled light tank Zorawar has successfully conducted preliminary automotive and firing trials, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) — one half of the public-private partnership developing the platform — said in a statement today. The tank, intended for India’s high-altitude battlefields like Ladakh and the north-east, broke cover in July this year.
“Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on September 13, 2024, successfully conducted the preliminary automotive trials of the Indian light Tank, Zorawar, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas. During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the Light Tank demonstrated exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the intended objectives. In the initial phase, the tank’s firing performance was rigorously evaluated, and it achieved the required accuracy on designated targets,” the statement said.
The Zorawar project, a joint effort of the DRDO and Indian private sector giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is a fast-track effort to give the Indian Army a mountain-ready tank — a capability gap identified during the ongoing India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. While China was able to deploy more agile T-15 tanks in the friction areas, the Indian Army had to depend on its heavier fleet of T-90 Bhishma tanks, vehicles not exactly built for agile operations on slopes.
The Indian Army has said it intends to induct at least 350 Zorawar LT tanks when the platform is ready. All indications are that development trials will lead into user trials this winter with the Indian Army in Ladakh. While the India-China standoff has been frozen without hostilities after several escalations in May-September 2020, the Indian Army sees high altitude theatres being semi-permanent bases for light tank regiments going forward.
The Zorawar isn’t just about direct combat with enemy armor but will also play a critical role in supporting infantry operations. Its ability to navigate tough terrain and provide close support in terms of firepower can be crucial in high-altitude warfare. The Zorawar light tank would enable Indian infantry to operate with greater confidence, knowing they have reliable armored support even in the most challenging environments. Deploying heavy tanks like the T-90 in high-altitude areas has not only been operationally challenging but also expensive in terms of logistics and maintenance. For the Indian Army, the Zorawar light tank should offer a more cost-effective solution, providing the necessary firepower and protection without the logistical burden associated with heavier armor. Its lower weight reduces transportation costs and simplifies the supply chain, making it a more sustainable option for long-term deployment in remote areas.
A previous episode of Livefist founder Shiv Aroor’s weekly television show on defence BattleCry focused on the Zorawar project:
India's Light Tank Zorawar Completes 1st Trial By Fire - Livefist
I thought Army ordered 59 Zorawar tanks to be supplied & wanted to hold a contest for the rest 285 tanks. No mention of the competition by Shiv Aroor. Have they dropped the completion? Or am I reading too much into this.
I think a stryker 105 mm (M1128) or future WhAP with 105 mm howitzer will be more agile & better suited option.
If the current system is working fine, go with it without touching anything. rather give a bigger order, which will reduce the cost, and ask the OEM (cockerill) to manufacture it in India with an Indian partner. Building everything is not always a good way to make a cheaper and more reliable product... We should spend the same R&D money on FRCV.