First Made-in-India Battle Tank Set To Roll Out

[yasin_khan]

India’s first indigenously produced main battle tank will roll out of its production hub in southern India on Aug. 7, the defense ministry said.

The Arjun tank, which was conceived in 1983 but has faced many hurdles, will be officially handed over to the army by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the ministry said in a press release Aug. 3.

Designed and developed by India’s Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, the $3.5 billion project is the most prestigious conceived by the Indian defense establishment.

However, the project had been mired in one controversy after another as many experts questioned its viability. The army also found that Arjun lacked many vital features during tests in Rajasthan in 1994.

Announcing Arjun’s official launch, the ministry said the tank has a “high degree of mobility, superior firepower and excellent protection.”

It said the tank’s computer-controlled fire control system provides accurate and faster target acquisition capability day and night and in all weather.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3116858&C=asiapac

 

[fieldmarshal]

Army remains sceptical of Arjun tank
RAJAT PANDIT
link:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/807453.cms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, AUGUST 08, 2004 11:58:18 PM ]

NEW DELHI: The Army may have taken the delivery of the first five "indigenously-developed" Arjun main battle tanks (MBTs) on Saturday but it still remains slightly sceptical about the tank's combat worthiness and operational mobility.
"With its excessive weight and width, the Arjun tank has poor operational mobility. It will not be possible to rapidly move it from one area of operation to another on the existing tank transporters on our rail network," said a senior officer.
At 58.5 tonnes, the Arjun is much heavier than the newly-inducted T-90S Russian MBT, which weighs 46.5 tonnes, and is consequently less manoeuvrable.

"It may prove too heavy for some of our bridges. It's also yet to be fully proven that the recurring problems with its engine and fire control systems have been solved," said an officer.

 

[gf0012-aust]

At 58.5 tonnes, the Arjun is much heavier than the newly-inducted T-90S Russian MBT, which weighs 46.5 tonnes, and is consequently less manoeuvrable.

"It may prove too heavy for some of our bridges. It's also yet to be fully proven that the recurring problems with its engine and fire control systems have been solved," said an officer.

I have no idea about how much of the problems have been solved - but the above comment is not the kind of thing a tanker would say. It's not about weight, it's about ground pressure and power to weight ratios.

That sounds like the journo added some poetic license to the comments and have made it look like a quote from someone in "armoured".

 

[Pathfinder-X]

Well T-90s is alot lighter than Arjun, more than 12 tons lighter so I'm guessing Arjun might be more heavily armoured.

On the other hand, Russian designs emphysis on active protection systems such as the "Arena". So maybe that helps to keep the weight of Russian tank down.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Well T-90s is alot lighter than Arjun, more than 12 tons lighter so I'm guessing Arjun might be more heavily armoured.

On the other hand, Russian designs emphysis on active protection systems such as the "Arena". So maybe that helps to keep the weight of Russian tank down.

I'm not disputing the figures, what I'm disagreeing with is the statement about weight and heaviness re bridges etc.... Vehicle mass, ground pressure, footprint etc are the single largest determinants - not absolute weight.

 

[Awang se]

All that factor play a role in determining tanks operational capability. Some bridges, especialy in the remote region, was design for maybe a pedestrian or at best, a car. So in order for the tanks to pass through it the engineers probably need to strengthen the structure or use a bridging unit to create another crossing. Fieldmarsyal point is correct, but he only put one aspect from many contributing factors.

 

[tatra]

All that factor play a role in determining tanks operational capability. Some bridges, especialy in the remote region, was design for maybe a pedestrian or at best, a car. So in order for the tanks to pass through it the engineers probably need to strengthen the structure or use a bridging unit to create another crossing. Fieldmarsyal point is correct, but he only put one aspect from many contributing factors.

If a bridge can only take a pedestrian or car, then no amount of strengthening will make it take a tank. So, it makes no difference whether a tank is in the 40-50 ton range (i.e. T72, T90) or heavier.