After Summer, Winter and High Altitude Trials by Indian Army, Zorawar Light Tank will be Ready for Induction by 2027

The Indian Army's much-anticipated Light Tank, developed under Project Zorawar, is inching closer to reality. According to DRDO chief Dr. Kamat, the internal development trials are expected to wrap up within the next 12-18 months. The tank will then be handed over to the Indian Army for user trials, with an optimistic induction timeline of 2027.

A collaborative project between the DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the Light Tank is being developed at L&T's Hazira facility in Gujarat. Project Zorawar envisions a lightweight, agile yet powerful tank tailored for diverse terrains, particularly addressing the Indian Army's strategic needs.

DRDO has outlined a comprehensive trial plan to ensure the Light Tank meets the Indian Army's stringent standards:

• Summer Trials: To gauge performance and endurance in high temperatures.
• Winter Trials: To evaluate capabilities in extreme cold conditions.
• High Altitude Trials: To ensure the tank can operate effectively in mountainous terrains.

The Indian Army is looking to procure around 350 units of the Light Tank, aiming to boost its mobility and firepower, especially in regions where heavier tanks might face operational challenges. The strategic importance of the Light Tank lies in its ability to offer swift and effective responses in areas with demanding terrains, such as the Himalayan borders and other high-altitude zones.

Dr. Kamat's optimistic projection of a 2027 induction date aligns with the completion of both internal and user trials. This ensures the tank is thoroughly vetted and meets the Army's operational requirements before entering full-scale production and deployment.

 

[sanket]

Most important feedback is Army Trials (Summer Winter Rainy). if they satisfies then it will b ordered otherwise few & new demands will b demanded. next target would b developing Engine for Light Tank.

 

[GMR]

As a thought, why Army representatives can't be part of this "internal" trial? This will help in faster feedback & rework, if required.

 

[Satya Dev]

Even Bharat Forge's offering of under 25MT NG Light battle tank is getting ready for testing by IA. If IA opts for the screw driver assembled one at LT's @nil M@nibh@i N@ik plant at Gujarat (PM-HM's home state), Bharat Forge will have to again depend on exports to Armenia.

 

[NSR]

2027 is not way off and is in line with about 3 year time line for any weapons systems development and testing and manufacturing.
At least Zorawar light tank will be birthed by Indian companies and all Indian citizens should be very proud of it.

 

[vinod nair]

Wow too soon, both ensure our soldiers dont have weapons in the time of need.

 

[Taus Melek]

I will take this statement from DRDO with a large bucket of salt

 

[Sandeep]

I will take this statement from DRDO with a large bucket of salt

Why are you blaming DRDO and not LT as well? They are both developing the tank which should have been completed and production started years ago.

 

[Sandeep]

Wow too soon, both ensure our soldiers dont have weapons in the time of need.

They have deployed the T72 and T90 tanks so they have a significant amount of armoured vehicles

 

[Kunal Kaistha]

When operational theatre is high altitudes, why need of trial in desert condition?

 

[Pramkumar]

After summer winter rainy and high altitude they ask for maritiuana deep sea test followed with moon trails since no spaceships available for moon testing and it heady for the moon surface they will look for imported tanks from Korea or some Scandinavian country

 

[Sandeep]

When operational theatre is high altitudes, why need of trial in desert condition?

These tanks can then be used wherever in India by keeping the same training requirements, spares, parts, repairs which makes their upkeep much easier and simple.

 

[Sandeep]

Even Bharat Forge's offering of under 25MT NG Light battle tank is getting ready for testing by IA. If IA opts for the screw driver assembled one at LT's @nil M@nibh@i N@ik plant at Gujarat (PM-HM's home state), Bharat Forge will have to again depend on exports to Armenia.

Bharat Forge aren’t developing any tank. Also this tank is being developed by DRDO and LT indigenously so your hatred against them is non existent as if they are importing a tank and just assembling them. Also how is it the PM fault where LT decide to develop a factory? Nobody is stopping other companies all over India from developing a tank and making it there. Your problem is the corrupt jihadi party ruled states who have destroyed any semblance of development or law and order where nothing gets done without getting a large bribe into their account first and then additional chai and samosa every year.

 

[Sandeep]

As a thought, why Army representatives can't be part of this "internal" trial? This will help in faster feedback & rework, if required.

They are part of the team from it’s design to development along with testing it out.

 

[kumar]

We need to have climatic test facilities. We cant wait for summer, winter, rainy, etc trials for years.

 

[Sandeep]

We need to have climatic test facilities. We cant wait for summer, winter, rainy, etc trials for years.

We are currently building one

 

[Akshat]

Most important feedback is Army Trials (Summer Winter Rainy). if they satisfies then it will b ordered otherwise few & new demands will b demanded. next target would b developing Engine for Light Tank.

Only worry is DRDO design. Whenever DRDO touches something, the trials get elongated since the design is faulty and MoD doesn't let Army refuse the product either. Hope this time Army won't have to shell out triple the cost to buy this tank and it actually meets their requirements.

 

[Akshat]

As a thought, why Army representatives can't be part of this "internal" trial? This will help in faster feedback & rework, if required.

That should not happen except for the most strategic products.

Think about this. At least 2 participants are making light tanks. There may be more, especially in smaller items. If army is a participant in one, then others are at a disadvantage. This is against the principle of open market competition.

So in big ticket products where only 2-3 participants are there, do it. Else army should not interfere except for ideation and testing stage.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to quickly finish developing the tank and its tests and trials as we need to start production which will take time before we make enough tanks and deploy them with our strike corps.

At the start of this program they said they would finish developing the tank and production would have started by now but these long delays shouldn’t occur at all as LT is part of this project which was supposed to quickly develop a tank. While carrying out these tests and trials they should start testing it at high altitude and very cold temperatures so they can be deployed on the LAC as quick as possible. This tank can also be used against Pakistan to reinforce our medium weight tanks.

 

[Akshat]

Bharat Forge aren’t developing any tank. Also this tank is being developed by DRDO and LT indigenously so your hatred against them is non existent as if they are importing a tank and just assembling them. Also how is it the PM fault where LT decide to develop a factory? Nobody is stopping other companies all over India from developing a tank and making it there. Your problem is the corrupt jihadi party ruled states who have destroyed any semblance of development or law and order where nothing gets done without getting a large bribe into their account first and then additional chai and samosa every year.

Please get your facts right. Baba Kalyani has confirmed that the Kalyani group (of which Bharat Forge is a part) is developing a light tank, which is in fact going to be a 25 ton category tank.

And he has a hatred towards B J P/M0di. So that's his issue.

 

[Akshat]

Why are you blaming DRDO and not LT as well? They are both developing the tank which should have been completed and production started years ago.

L&T only got involved in 2022 and rolled out the tank in 2023 for internal trials. So so far they have nothing to be blamed for. Problem now is that DRDO has designed this at the broader level and we all know that DRDO throws the QRs in the dust bin when they design something. Like the ATAGS.

 

[Akshat]

After summer winter rainy and high altitude they ask for maritiuana deep sea test followed with moon trails since no spaceships available for moon testing and it heady for the moon surface they will look for imported tanks from Korea or some Scandinavian country

The trial processes go long only when the product doesn't meet the specs. MoD doesn't allow the product to be rejected and Army is left trying to make it work somehow.

 

[Anton Sokolov]

Why do they conduct separate trials -Internal trial, ARmy trials. Conduct joint trials for quick induction

 

[Akshat]

Why do they conduct separate trials -Internal trial, ARmy trials. Conduct joint trials for quick induction

That’s only ideal in socialist nations. Army shouldn’t be biased towards any one entity and hence must not conduct joint trials or development. It should be an open market unlike Russia.

 

[Sandeep]

Please get your facts right. Baba Kalyani has confirmed that the Kalyani group (of which Bharat Forge is a part) is developing a light tank, which is in fact going to be a 25 ton category tank.

And he has a hatred towards B J P/M0di. So that's his issue.

I meant to say he isn’t developing a tank for the current Zorawar light tank project. He might be developing a light tank and IFV on his own under his own in-house project but for this tender LT has been selected.

 

[Sudha]

That should not happen except for the most strategic products.

Think about this. At least 2 participants are making light tanks. There may be more, especially in smaller items. If army is a participant in one, then others are at a disadvantage. This is against the principle of open market competition.

So in big ticket products where only 2-3 participants are there, do it. Else army should not interfere except for ideation and testing stage.

He meant "internal trial" where the product is already developed & being tesed. IA will not be involved in the development. Even if there are competing cos it shouldn't be a matter of concern at all. The same army team can evaluate the competing product also. It will save months if not years.

 

[Sandeep]

L&T only got involved in 2022 and rolled out the tank in 2023 for internal trials. So so far they have nothing to be blamed for. Problem now is that DRDO has designed this at the broader level and we all know that DRDO throws the QRs in the dust bin when they design something. Like the ATAGS.

It was a joint project from the start under the development then production linked scheme. They were the quickest, easiest and affordable method of building a prototype as DRDO couldn’t do it by themselves alone or fast enough. At least that was the general idea but it has been delayed by a few years before it enters production.

As for the ATAGS which was another joint project from the start between DRDO and TATA then they will be buying 300 guns in the first batch and probably more later on. The gun might be slightly heavier than others but the gun gives our military a strategic advantage as we can fire shells from a safe distance knowing that the enemy can’t hit our guns with their artillery fire. It’s pointless developing a gun with the same range as your enemy who can hit and destroy our guns with their artillery’s gun. This gives you a level playing field instead of the field advantage that we need and get by having the longest range gun.

 

[Akshat]

It was a joint project from the start under the development then production linked scheme. They were the quickest, easiest and affordable method of building a prototype as DRDO couldn’t do it by themselves alone or fast enough. At least that was the general idea but it has been delayed by a few years before it enters production.

As for the ATAGS which was another joint project from the start between DRDO and TATA then they will be buying 300 guns in the first batch and probably more later on. The gun might be slightly heavier than others but the gun gives our military a strategic advantage as we can fire shells from a safe distance knowing that the enemy can’t hit our guns with their artillery fire. It’s pointless developing a gun with the same range as your enemy who can hit and destroy our guns with their artillery’s gun. This gives you a level playing field instead of the field advantage that we need and get by having the longest range gun.

That's wrong. In September 2022, L&T was chosen as the development partner. They are not even the production partner. L&T chief is on record saying this.

And wrong about ATAGS too. Why don't you go and read before blabbering lies all the time? And what's the point of developing a gun which you just can't buy in enough numbers? Army had initially issued a tender for 400 guns but now they have to buy brand new trucks due to which order size is now only 300.

 

[Akshat]

He meant "internal trial" where the product is already developed & being tesed. IA will not be involved in the development. Even if there are competing cos it shouldn't be a matter of concern at all. The same army team can evaluate the competing product also. It will save months if not years.

There are no internal trials after the product is developed. There are developmental trials, which are also called internal trials. Once they are over, the product goes for user trials.

It is a big matter of concern. Imagine if you are an army team involved with the development of a weapon. You will always be biased towards it. We need level playing field bro.

 

[Akshat]

I meant to say he isn’t developing a tank for the current Zorawar light tank project. He might be developing a light tank and IFV on his own under his own in-house project but for this tender LT has been selected.

No. He is developing it for the light tank tender and will be competing against L&T for the army's tender.