India has unveiled its indigenous light tanked called "Zorawar" which will boost the Army's combat capabilities and add to its firepower along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
In pics: India unveils Zorawar tank with an eye on China
The 25-tonne, which is expected to be ready by 2027, is being jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and L&T Defence.
It is designed for quick deployment along the front with China, sources told PTI.
After the unveiling of the tank, DRDO chief Dr Samir V Kamat called it a "momentous day for all of us to see the light tank in action".
He said the first prototype will undergo development trials over the next six months following which the DRDO will be ready to offer it to the forces for user trials. "Zorawar is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army by 2027 after all trials," he said.
DRDO tank lab director Rajesh Kumar said that the unique feature of the Zorawar tank is its optimized combination of firepower, mobility, and protection, all while maintaining a lightweight design. This balance allows the Zorawar to effectively perform both offensive and defensive.
The tank will see several trials for desert warfare, high-altitude reaches and different weather conditions before it is inducted into the Army.
The early internal trials of the tank took place at a facility in Hazira, Gujarat, less than two years after the ambitious project was sanctioned, the people in the know of the matter said.
The tank will have a 105mm or higher caliber main gun capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles. It will also have modular explosive reactive armor and an active protection system to enhance survivability.
The tank's power-to-weight ratio of at least 30 hp/ton will ensure improved mobility integration with drones and battle management systems for enhanced situational awareness.
Eye on China
Zorawar is being developed with an aim to counter an assertive China, which has deployed tanks of similar categories near the border.
The Army planned to procure light tanks equipped with adequate firepower for deployment in high-altitude areas with an aim to enhance agility, manoeuvrability and operational capability.
It is looking to deploy as many as 350 light tanks, mostly in the mountainous border areas, sources said.
The shift in strategy comes after the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh in 2020, in which 20 Indian troops and an undisclosed number of Chinese soldiers lost their lives.
In the aftermath of the clashes, which triggered tensions along the LAC, the Army has deployed several easily transportable M-777 ultralight howitzers in mountainous regions along the LAC, including in Arunachal Pradesh. The M-777s can be transported quickly in Chinook helicopters.
The ties between the two countries remain strained following the conflict, with India maintaining that there can be no normalcy unless there is peace in the border areas.
(With inputs from PTI)
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