What is the Zorawar light tank that India has just launched?

The prototype of the Zorawar tank was unveiled after two and a half years of development. A joint project between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufacturing contractor Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the tank was unveiled on July 6 at L&T's testing facility in Hazira, Gujarat.

DRDO chief Samir Kamat said desert and high-altitude trials are expected to be completed within six months. It will then be handed over to the Indian Army for further testing. The tank is expected to be operational by 2027.

Zorawar light tank. Photo: Wikipedia

Zorawar was India’s response to a 2020 border clash with China that left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. The two armies have remained locked in a standoff on the disputed Himalayan border since then, and talks remain deadlocked.

The Line of Actual Control between India and China is more than 3,300 kilometers long, running along some of the world's highest mountains with an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters. Both sides have sent equipment and personnel to the area and conducted live-fire exercises since the 2020 clash.

India made a request for new light tanks in April 2021 after the Chinese People's Liberation Army deployed its Type 15 light tanks to the front lines.

Military expert Lu Jibing said that heavy tanks will be affected by altitude. "Usually, for every 100 meters of increase, the engine power will decrease by 1%. So on a plateau of 4,000 meters, 40% of the engine power will disappear," Lu said.

But as light tanks, the Zorawar prototype and the Chinese Type 15 both have high-horsepower engines and relatively light hulls, making them more agile and better suited to Himalayan terrain. Light tanks can also be easily transported to more remote areas by road, rail or air.

The Zorawar weighs 25 tons and has removable float modules that allow it to be amphibious. Like the Type 15, the Zorawar is operated by a crew of three and has a 105mm main gun.

Both armored vehicles have gun-launched missiles and machine guns, as well as remote-controlled weapon stations and automatic grenade launchers. The Zorawar's top speed is 65km/h, while the Type 15 can reach 70km/h.

The Type 15 has a laser warning sensor system to detect incoming anti-tank missiles and can automatically deploy smoke grenades if the tank is hit by an enemy laser. The Zorawar is said to have a similar active protection system and plans to install an AI system to assist with target identification and decision making.

It will be years before the Zorawar is ready for service, but the Indian army has already ordered 59 Zorawar light tanks, with plans for an eventual fleet of more than 350.

Ngoc Anh (according to SCMP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/xe-tang-hang-nhe-zorawar-ma-an-do-vua-cho-ra-mat-la-gi-post304323.html