India's New 'Zorawar' Light Tank Undergoes Rigorous Testing

India's ambitious Light Tank project, known as Zorawar, is making major strides. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced the tank is undergoing intensive testing at Larsen & Toubro's facility, paving the way for its potential deployment in challenging mountainous regions.

Designed for speed and versatility, the Zorawar is built for rapid deployment in difficult terrain. It's strategically air-transportable, boasts an impressive cruising range, and can maneuver with ease due to its low ground pressure. These features ensure the tank can be operationalized swiftly in remote border areas.

Beyond mobility, the Zorawar packs a punch. It features a high power-to-weight ratio for rapid battlefield maneuvering, along with advanced firepower, enhanced protection systems, state-of-the-art surveillance, and top-notch communication systems. This makes it a formidable force against armored threats, low-flying aircraft, and enemy fortifications.

Currently, the Zorawar is undergoing internal testing at L&T's Hazira facility. Engineers are meticulously evaluating its automotive performance, software systems, stabilization, and other core elements. After these initial tests, the tank will be subjected to field trials during the summer to prove its mettle in real-world environments.

The final and most challenging test for the Zorawar will be high-altitude deployment. This will rigorously examine its ability to perform under the extreme conditions found in India's mountainous border regions.

The progress of the Zorawar Light Tank project marks a significant step forward for India's defense capabilities. If successful, this versatile tank has the potential to enhance operational effectiveness in the country's most challenging territories.

 

[Hari Sud]

Taking way too long….

 

[sanket]

Most important Anti-Drone system /protection from sky .

 

[Pramkumar]

In WW2 era Germans keep testing their news weapons while Russian Mass production their weapons

In WW3 era India keeps testing it’s weapons endlessly

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Germans keep testing their news weapons

The key here - New weapons.
In India, a vendor is forced to keep testing a relatively incumbent platform. And then they keep on testing and teating and testing and (slight sabotage for change) and teating and testing.

Problem here is, both bureaucracy and Army culture harks back to the British Colonial time of the Raj and whose structure and discipline was not hard-reset after India got its independence.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

DRDO need not announce.
Just finalize all testing and user trials and start inducting in numbers necessary.

This is not Indian Idol where you need to update common junta about every minute progress made with the project.

Aab mumbai aa saktey hain, bas aap ko har cheez batana nahin hai.

 

[GMR]

So confusing ..what happened, trial was supposed to start 2-3 months back!!! They r still "Gearing up"??? When the agencies & forces will be serious towards national security???

 

[INDIAN]

But problem lies in the procurement , placing orders, its so slow process that it will take another decade for these tanks to be actual induction in Indian army.

 

[Akshat]

In WW2 era Germans keep testing their news weapons while Russian Mass production their weapons

In WW3 era India keeps testing it’s weapons endlessly

On the contrary, Germans were sending weapons without testing as Hit Lee forced the scientists to come up with weapons quickly and many of them backfired. Many unfinished products were pushed into the war.

 

[Akshat]

So confusing ..what happened, trial was supposed to start 2-3 months back!!! They r still "Gearing up"??? When the agencies & forces will be serious towards national security???

The product was supposed to be rolled out in late 2023. That was done. Now it is under developmental trials which is a usual procedure. After that it will go for user trials. Usually the developmental trials take many years. The man portable atgm took 6 years of internal testing. This tank is far more complicated but the trials’ schedule is supposed to be much shorter with this. I think within 2-3 years all developmental and user trials are to be finished.

 

[Akshat]

The key here - New weapons.
In India, a vendor is forced to keep testing a relatively incumbent platform. And then they keep on testing and teating and testing and (slight sabotage for change) and teating and testing.

Problem here is, both bureaucracy and Army culture harks back to the British Colonial time of the Raj and whose structure and discipline was not hard-reset after India got its independence.

Totally disagree. Usually the case is that these weapons don’t meet the required specs. Look at the drones made by the private sector or their armored vehicles. They are getting inducted with barely a year or so of testing and within a few years of initiating the projects.

 

[Akshat]

But problem lies in the procurement , placing orders, its so slow process that it will take another decade for these tanks to be actual induction in Indian army.

Problem is with the products usually. If the product is working it can be inducted at lightening speeds. How come drones and armored vehicles are getting inducted when they have no DRDO hand in the whole process?

 

[Satya Dev]

What's LT's contribution - engine, gearbox, steering, braking system, turret rotating drive, barrel, tracks, drive sprocket, rolling wheels, periscopes, smoke grenade launchers, auxilliary power system, air conditioning system etc etc? Fellows just painted LT logo on the ELTA HF AESA radars imported from Israel? In case of K9 Vajra, direct import from Techwin would've cost us only Rs 23-25 crores apiece, but LT charged Rs 45-50 crores apiece for assembling CKD kits with Indian hardware to qualify as ATMANIRBHAR product.
BEL upgraded 200 Air Defence Guns under a contract worth Rs 575 Crores & the guns have been deployed on Arunachal Pradesh borders with China. Why the upgrade of 220 AD Guns by LT should cost Rs 6,000 Crores - why so much premium to promote defense production in private sector under ATMANIRBHAR?

 

[Sandeep]

What's LT's contribution - engine, gearbox, steering, braking system, turret rotating drive, barrel, tracks, drive sprocket, rolling wheels, periscopes, smoke grenade launchers, auxilliary power system, air conditioning system etc etc? Fellows just painted LT logo on the ELTA HF AESA radars imported from Israel? In case of K9 Vajra, direct import from Techwin would've cost us only Rs 23-25 crores apiece, but LT charged Rs 45-50 crores apiece for assembling CKD kits with Indian hardware to qualify as ATMANIRBHAR product.
BEL upgraded 200 Air Defence Guns under a contract worth Rs 575 Crores & the guns have been deployed on Arunachal Pradesh borders with China. Why the upgrade of 220 AD Guns by LT should cost Rs 6,000 Crores - why so much premium to promote defense production in private sector under ATMANIRBHAR?

As always another ridiculous amount of lies and half baked knowledge and conspiracy theories. Since when did we buy radars from Israel recently? With the K9 over 70% of the technology was transferred and made in India which will allow us to make more of the same guns without their assistance so we didn't just import CKD kits. Also the difference with radars and costs depends on the range, power and type along with positioning them and infrastructure in installing them. So nice try but your corrupt jihadi party and its lies will always fail.

 

[Sandeep]

This is a crucial capability that we need as we need fast, agile and modern tanks where we can use drones. We also need them to have adequate protection from top attack ATGM and drone attacks and we need to own and make 100% of the tank in India so we don't become reliant on foreign parts and technology.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Look at the drones made by the private sector or their armored vehicles. They are getting inducted with barely a year or so of testing

That is good news.
I'd like to know. Which drones or armoured vehicle made by private sector have been inducted by the IA?

 

[Akshat]

That is good news.
I'd like to know. Which drones or armoured vehicle made by private sector have been inducted by the IA?

The list is long buddy. Mahindra, Tata and others have got contracts and have even completed deliveries of many. (Some designed by themselves, others are foreign designs) I can name a few but don’t know which ones are foreign designs and which ones are indigenous designs so I will refrain from doing that.

As for drones, again, many designs have been inducted. At the top is probably the swarm drone system, sourced from 2 or more manufacturers. Army has already inducted those. Many many more are there. You can probably google and find out.

 

[V pal]

India is average to new developments, out of box thinking, fast and innovative products. India is quiet happy and complacent with obsolete, dated invotions, obsolete technology replacements. We eugalise brow beat these obsolete innovations. New technology is always in.testimg.phase. ie Turkey Iran leave aside china we can't.thimk. of.even.touching .china. china turkey Iran and are trying to catch up with USA in armamants development. Where are we. 40 yrs in making Tejas, under pressure reinvention the bofors after 40 yrs.

We are even worst than Russia who do not know what to do after losing war in Ukraine. It.did not even know the.potential of Ukraine it invaded Ukraine with obsolete armamnets technology and strategy. Russia lives 30 yrs behind the world bus shows off as super power. Are we like them

 

[Anonymus]

Taking way too long….

Designing started in 16 th sep 2022 and trials going to start in April 2024 they took 1.5 years to complete this how fast you want.

 

[Puneet]

Once this light tank is deployed successfully and if it's found to be potent enough then the developers can think of a heavier medium weight version with a more powerful gun and armor. Maybe in the 35 to 40 ton category.