DRDO to Equip Zorawar Light Tank's 105mm Cannon with New GLATGM, Giving Superior Firepower and Strategic Edge in High-altitude Combat

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is spearheading the development of a new Gun-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile (GLATGM) specifically for the 105mm main gun of the indigenous Zorawar light tank.

This initiative is set to significantly boost the combat capabilities and operational flexibility of the Zorawar, a platform jointly developed by DRDO and private industry major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to meet the challenges of high-altitude warfare.

The Zorawar light tank is currently undergoing developmental assessments and has been engineered to deliver effective mobile firepower in challenging environments, such as the mountainous Himalayan border regions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

A key upgrade for the tank includes a new Indian-developed 105mm high-pressure cannon, which will replace the Belgian-origin cannon used on the initial prototype.

The DRDO's parallel development of a compatible anti-tank missile aims to give the Zorawar the ability to destroy heavily armoured enemy targets from safer, extended distances, supplementing its conventional ammunition.

The new missile system is being designed for direct firing from the Zorawar's 105mm cannon. This method is comparable to existing international systems like Israel's LAHAT and Russia's 9M119 Refleks, allowing the tank crew to engage threats such as enemy tanks and fortified positions without exposing their own vehicle to close-range fire.

Key expected features of the DRDO's GLATGM include:

• Effective Range: Approximately 4 to 5 kilometres.
• Guidance System: Likely to employ precise guidance technologies such as semi-active laser homing or an imaging infrared seeker for accuracy.
• Warhead: A tandem-charge High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead, designed to defeat the advanced protection of modern tanks, including Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
• Fire Control Integration: The missile will be fully integrated with the Zorawar's advanced Fire Control System (FCS) to ensure a high probability of hitting targets with the first shot.

This advanced missile is being developed keeping in mind India's varied operational landscapes, providing a precision strike capability for the Zorawar tank in both plains and high-altitude mountainous regions.

The adoption of a gun-launched missile system also offers logistical advantages by utilizing the tank's existing main gun as the launcher, thereby removing the need for separate, externally mounted missile launch mechanisms and streamlining supply chains.

The indigenous development of this gun-fired ATGM is a crucial step, providing the Zorawar light tank with a significant combat advantage over similar armoured platforms deployed in the region.

Furthermore, this project strengthens India's self-reliance in critical defence technologies and bolsters the national defence industrial ecosystem, aligning with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative.

As regional military dynamics evolve, including the deployment of light tanks like China's Type 15 in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, the Zorawar, equipped with this new missile, will offer a credible deterrent and help maintain strategic balance in high-altitude operational areas.

While DRDO officials have not yet announced a definitive timeline for the completion of the ATGM's development, it is anticipated to progress in sync with the Zorawar light tank's ongoing trial phases.

The integration trials for the missile system with the new indigenous cannon are expected to commence in the subsequent testing phase, with the possibility of user trials beginning around 2026.

 

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[sanket]

Good. That's what I was saying a couple of days ago. Instead of developing two separate light tanks, they should go for one lethal lightweight tank based on requirements and trial feedback. Here, Zorawar is replacing the Western 105mm cannon with an indigenous one, unlike AVNL, which wants to develop with Western help. That's the difference, again making them dependent on foreign "maal." Also, developing ATGM is a good development.

 

[Kira]

There is no point in designing a totally new gun for the Zorawar as the current Belgian one is sufficient, and since the total numbers to be inducted would be around 300 or so, there is not much economic sense either. Instead, they should try to clear trials ASAP and do away with small issues that naturally arise before commencing full-scale production.

 

[Parveen Gahlot]

Good to see that Zorawar would be using our own 105mm gun, but who's making it?

Agree that trials should be there, but not for many years. Most of the time, indigenous products are tested for 5-7 years, and foreign products are cleared within 1 year only.

 

[Sandeep]

This is a very important project and we should make sure that we develop it carefully and properly. While the first 60 tanks will be built by LT we will still need to develop a 100% indigenously designed, developed and manufactured unmanned turret with all of the modern technology like EW, anti thermal paint, active protection system, engine, automatic transmission, surveillance drone, kamikaze drone, armour, ERA etc. All of this will take a long time to develop and test it properly.

The 105mm missile that we will develop and manufacture will need to have the very strong penetration power that can penetrate at least 1000mm of the heavy armour on the vehicles which won’t be easy or simple because of the smaller round size. The private sector should definitely develop a missile by themselves or they can develop one by partnering with DRDO or with a range of private sector companies by creating a consortium.