Bharat Forge Enters Light Tank Development Race, Questions Loom Over Design Approach

Pune-based industrial giant Bharat Forge, under the leadership of Baba Kalyani, has recently declared its entry into the development of a Light Tank, signaling a significant move within the Indian defence sector.

However, uncertainties surround the company's chosen design strategy, leaving industry experts and observers speculating whether they will leverage the existing design from the DRDO, create an entirely new design, or opt for a collaborative approach.

This announcement comes at a crucial juncture, with DRDO's "Project Zorawar" already underway. This project, a joint venture with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), focuses on developing a 25-ton Light Tank and has recently reached a major milestone with the commencement of company-level trials. Upon successful completion of internal testing, the tank will advance to user trials conducted by the Indian Army.

As per Project Zorawar's terms, L&T is authorized to manufacture the initial batch of 59 Light Tanks, while the remaining 300 units are slated to be produced by a company selected through a competitive tender process. Bharat Forge's recent declaration raises intriguing questions regarding their potential involvement in this tender or whether they intend to pursue a separate Light Tank solution altogether.

The Indian Army's pressing need for Light Tanks has created a lucrative opportunity for domestic defence companies. With both DRDO's ongoing project and Bharat Forge's new initiative, the coming months promise to reveal more about potential collaborations or witness a competitive race between these two contenders.

Further details regarding Bharat Forge's Light Tank project are anticipated to emerge in the near future, providing a clearer picture of their chosen path and its potential impact on the Indian defence landscape.

 

[Hari Sud]

Is there a need for another brand of light tank?

 

[Ajath Shri]

Is there a need for another brand of light tank?

Actually the platform can be used for designing and developing indigenous SPAAG which is very critical for taking on Drones.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Again, piecemeal order of 59 units, then a lengthy tendering process, followed by allegations of unfair advantage by losing bidders, followed by a long inquiry resulting in the scrapping of tender. Basically, five years down the $hitter with nothing to show for. Is there an end to this stupidity? Why can't we simply place adequate if not large orders upfront? What are these 59 units going to do? Even if everything goes as planned, from bidding to production, it's still gonna take a while. The first tanks following this initial order won't roll out before 3-4 years, do we have that luxury? For f**k's sake

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

A-35-45 ton tank with 125 mm caliber gun and Armour needs to be built with a 2 or 3 man crew for mixed formations of heavy and medium tanks or light or medium tanks .

 

[Pink Panther]

Is there a need for another brand of light tank?

Ploy to make Zorawar a defense show product like Tata and Mahindra WHAP, Bharat Forge might partner with either Korean K21 or Russian 2S25 Sprut-SD.

 

[Sudha]

Again, piecemeal order of 59 units, then a lengthy tendering process, followed by allegations of unfair advantage by losing bidders, followed by a long inquiry resulting in the scrapping of tender. Basically, five years down the $hitter with nothing to show for. Is there an end to this stupidity? Why can't we simply place adequate if not large orders upfront? What are these 59 units going to do? Even if everything goes as planned, from bidding to production, it's still gonna take a while. The first tanks following this initial order won't roll out before 3-4 years, do we have that luxury? For f**k's sake

Instead of criticising the procedure which will be based on competition to avoid undue hiking of price, one has to criticise the sloth pace at which the procedures are done to sign the contracts.

 

[Akshat]

Is there a need for another brand of light tank?

That’s the whole point of open market competition. If they believe they can do a better job, let them do it. But make sure DRDO and L&T get no special treatment. Frame the rules, and then follow them for everyone. Let the best man/entity win. And knowing DRDO’s record, there is a very good chance that Zorawar may have some critical design issues which just can’t be solved, like ATAGS.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Instead of criticising the procedure which will be based on competition to avoid undue hiking of price, one has to criticise the sloth pace at which the procedures are done to sign the contracts.

Ma'am, you can rehash and reword the same thing i just said but i don't get the point. Undue hiking of price? Where's the scope for undue hiking of price when a larger order is given for a negotiated price? What's not to criticize?

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

competition to avoid undue hiking of price

Obviously, this doesn't work.
DPSUs are known to game this very system by underbidding for contract and once the contract is bagged, they twiddle thumbs to not only delay delivery but also to hike costs.

Ever herd of the cibil score? No bank will offer you loans if your cibil score is broken. And all it takes is a delayed payment to break your perfect history of high-average score.

If for a individual person to bag loan, his immaculate history is a criteria, why shouldn't a contractor's past performances be a criteria for defence biddings?

If a private contractor bunks its contracts terms, it should be heavily penalizes. Similarly, id a DPSU has performed shoddy in the past, it should get black listed.

 

[Sandeep]

Again, piecemeal order of 59 units, then a lengthy tendering process, followed by allegations of unfair advantage by losing bidders, followed by a long inquiry resulting in the scrapping of tender. Basically, five years down the $hitter with nothing to show for. Is there an end to this stupidity? Why can't we simply place adequate if not large orders upfront? What are these 59 units going to do? Even if everything goes as planned, from bidding to production, it's still gonna take a while. The first tanks following this initial order won't roll out before 3-4 years, do we have that luxury? For f**k's sake

As LT is a private company and are developing the tank they are using a foreign turret and some parts and technology from their own resources and money so they will get a exclusive offer to build 60. Then to give the large order of around 300 we can get the best deal based on cost, technology and performance which is why tendering is necessary so it's fair for any company to bid for it. The large tender can be issued at the same time LT is constructing the first 60 tanks as it will take a bit of time to go through the contract and price negotiations etc.

 

[Sandeep]

Currently India need to start getting these light tanks and the fastest method is to get LT to construct them. After that exclusive offer of 60 tanks then we can give the larger order of 300 tanks to whichever company based on the technology, equipment and lowest price. But in mountain warfare the lightest, fastest and tank that can dominate the high ground gets an advantage so let's get these tanks made and delivered.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

As LT is a private company and are developing the tank they are using a foreign turret and some parts and technology from their own resources and money so they will get a exclusive offer to build 60. Then to give the large order of around 300 we can get the best deal based on cost, technology and performance which is why tendering is necessary so it's fair for any company to bid for it. The large tender can be issued at the same time LT is constructing the first 60 tanks as it will take a bit of time to go through the contract and price negotiations etc.

Yeah, and when is that gonna happen, bruh? Did you not read what i wrote? We don't have the luxury of time.

 

[Sandeep]

Yeah, and when is that gonna happen, bruh? Did you not read what i wrote? We don't have the luxury of time.

You do realise that China or Pakistan can’t go to war against us because of our nuclear weapons and missiles. Also we have adequate number of T72-T90 which have a heavier armour that’s deployed against China and Pakistan.

Also we are getting the light tank made by LT so we should receive around 60 tanks which will be produced very quickly.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

You do realise that China or Pakistan can’t go to war against us because of our nuclear weapons and missiles. Also we have adequate number of T72-T90 which have a heavier armour that’s deployed against China and Pakistan.

Also we are getting the light tank made by LT so we should receive around 60 tanks which will be produced very quickly.

😂😆 Are you really that naive? It does not have to be a full fledged war to do some good ol salami slicing. The heavy armour that you so effusively speak of is exactly the problem on that terrain. Those 59 units ain't gonna do squat in the larger scheme of things.

 

[Priyan]

😂😆 Are you really that naive? It does not have to be a full fledged war to do some good ol salami slicing. The heavy armour that you so effusively speak of is exactly the problem on that terrain. Those 59 units ain't gonna do squat in the larger scheme of things.

Bro don't bother arguing with these ultra nationalists, they think even the slightest criticism of the country is unacceptable.

Criticism is necessary for improvement. You are right btw, say China takes Arunachal Pradesh tommorow, will we be willing to risk all out nuclear war and destruction of the rest of our country over that? Probably not. No nukes will be fired and China will keep our territory.

We need to build up our conventional strength asap.

 

[Sandeep]

😂😆 Are you really that naive? It does not have to be a full fledged war to do some good ol salami slicing. The heavy armour that you so effusively speak of is exactly the problem on that terrain. Those 59 units ain't gonna do squat in the larger scheme of things.

They can try but they will fail as always. Also those tanks can be used in mountain terrain but will just be slightly slower and there are some flat ground areas as well. Those 59 units will just be as a start and a larger order can always start production straight after they manufacture those 59 tanks. At the same time we also have many IFV and lighter Jeep vehicles with ATGM firing capability. Then we also have our attack helicopters which can kill tanks as well so you don’t just need to rely on a light tanks or medium weight tanks to defend or attack any tanks that crosses the border.

 

[Satya Dev]

I think Bharat Forge is developing the light tank for export market.
For IA & MOD the priority is to order the light tank on the LT's screw driver assembly plant in Gujarat (PM-HM-MoSD's home state) at a staggering Rs 50 crore per unit.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

They can try but they will fail as always. Also those tanks can be used in mountain terrain but will just be slightly slower and there are some flat ground areas as well. Those 59 units will just be as a start and a larger order can always start production straight after they manufacture those 59 tanks. At the same time we also have many IFV and lighter Jeep vehicles with ATGM firing capability. Then we also have our attack helicopters which can kill tanks as well so you don’t just need to rely on a light tanks or medium weight tanks to defend or attack any tanks that crosses the border.

They didn't fail in 62 and you best believe that their offensive capabilities have increased several orders of magnitude since then. You think the bat eaters won't field attack helos and ATGM platforms? Are you not aware that they have a dedicated Rocket Force? Those 59 units will only be good for stalling them a bit, nothing more. These piecemeal orders are exactly the reason why we have problems when the balloon goes up. They're only a deterrent, not a solution.

 

[Rajesh]

Why waste money unnecessarily. Bharat forge is good in making guns why can't they show the same initiative to develop 105/120&125 mm mbt guns,155mm guns for vajra. 127/76mm naval guns. The gun system used in lch prachand and our fighter jets.lots of scope for participating according to their expertise avoiding duplication.