DRDO's CVRDE Plans Indigenous 700HP Engine for Zorawar Light Tank's Future Production, Replacing Cummins Engine

The Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), a leading laboratory under India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has revealed plans to develop a new 700HP engine specifically designed for the Zorawar Light Tank. This initiative comes as the Zorawar project progresses towards full-scale production, aiming to optimize the tank's performance in India's challenging terrains.

Currently, the Zorawar Light Tank prototype and the first batch of 59 units are powered by an American-made Cummins 750HP engine. However, with a larger production run of 240 more units on the horizon, CVRDE has proposed an indigenous solution with its 700HP engine.

The Proposed 700HP Engine​

CVRDE's new engine boasts the following specifications:

• Configuration: An 8-cylinder V90 with a cross-plane crankshaft, incorporating tungsten inserts for enhanced durability.
• Dimensions: Bore x Stroke of 114 mm x 112 mm.
• Performance: Capable of reaching up to 3600 rpm, featuring an Overhead Valve (OHV) system, a waste-gated turbocharger, and a charge cooler.
• Fuel System: Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) for efficient fuel delivery.
• Lubrication: Utilizes a dry-sump lubrication system.
• Operational Characteristics: Achieves a mean piston speed of approximately 13.4 m/s and a Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP) of 23 bar.

This engine is specifically tailored to fit within the existing engine bay of the Zorawar, offering a balance between power output and size. While the Cummins 750HP engine has proven effective for initial testing and the first production batch, relying on a foreign engine for large-scale production presents strategic and logistical challenges.

The alternative considered was downgrading a 1000HP engine to fit the Zorawar. However, this would require significant modifications to the tank's internal structure due to the larger size of the engine, increasing complexity and potentially compromising other design aspects.

Importantly, the new engine's design is optimized for high-altitude operations, a crucial factor given the Zorawar's intended deployment in challenging terrains like Ladakh, where traditional tanks face mobility issues due to the thin air and rugged landscape.

By developing an indigenous engine for the Zorawar Light Tank, CVRDE is not only contributing to India's self-reliance in defence technology but also ensuring that the tank is optimally equipped to meet the specific operational challenges it will face in its intended areas of deployment.

 

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[sanket]

1000 hp would b better Engine zorawar being 25 Ton Light Tank & it will b deployed in Mountains region for Fast Mobility 700 hp is not enough, Thrust to weight ration should 40 for better mobility

 

[Steel Mathi]

If this engine is capable of 1000 hp, it will be able to perform better in the future...

Works well in high altitudes.
Even if stuck in mud, it can be pulled out without the help of another vehicle.
Generates more electricity.
Can be equipped with additional defensive weapons.
Can also be equipped with anti-tank missiles.
Can be used to operate surveillance, armed and suicide drones.
A more efficient engine is needed to operate electronic warfare defense weapons.

 

[Anant]

If this engine is capable of 1000 hp, it will be able to perform better in the future...

Works well in high altitudes.
Even if stuck in mud, it can be pulled out without the help of another vehicle.
Generates more electricity.
Can be equipped with additional defensive weapons.
Can also be equipped with anti-tank missiles.
Can be used to operate surveillance, armed and suicide drones.
A more efficient engine is needed to operate electronic warfare defense weapons.

True, but a more powerful engine is also heavier and larger, and may not fit under the given constraints.

That said, having a smaller, more powerful engine would definitely be far better.

 

[RG]

Will the 700HP meet the requirement, I am sure CVRDE must have done studies, may be they can add turbo mode for extreme end requirement. Smaller power pack means less space requirement.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Sensible. Have a 700HP engine, 900HP and 1000HP engines. Upgrades and new platforms will need variety of engines.

 

[Provocateur Extraordinaire]

1000 hp would b better Engine zorawar being 25 Ton Light Tank & it will b deployed in Mountains region for Fast Mobility 700 hp is not enough, Thrust to weight ration should 40 for better mobility

The article does say the 1k hp engine is too large to fit in the present engine bay of zorawar. So it would mean a complete redesign to accommodate it resulting in a larger and a more weighty tank, which would negate its advantages of quick mobility in hilly regions, air transportability and a host of other problems. If you can do with a larger and a more weighty tank in these regions why develop zorawar at all. A somewhat stripped down T72 would have done the work too.

 

[Steel Mathi]

If this engine is capable of 1000 hp, it will be able to perform better in the future...

Works well in high altitudes.
Even if stuck in mud, it can be pulled out without the help of another vehicle.
Generates more electricity.
Can be equipped with additional defensive weapons.
Can also be equipped with anti-tank missiles.
Can be used to operate surveillance, armed and suicide drones.
A more efficient engine is needed to operate electronic warfare defense weapons.

Don't know about 1000 HP but vehicle weight always has an increasing trend as they keep getting upgraded over their service life. Might not be a good idea to move to 700 HP from 750 HP, specially if that 50 HP isn't made up for in lesser engine weight.

 

[Sandeep]

This article isn’t accurate at all. The military specifically asked for a 1000hp engine for the Zorawar tank because in high altitude, rough terrain and cold climates you need a more powerful engine to ensure it gives the sufficient amount of power and speed as its performance drops.

So far the CVRDE are only developing two 100% indigenous engine projects which is a 600hp for the IVF/AP or the future infantry vehicle and the 1500hp engine meant for the future main battle tanks. Is there any new engine project other than these two?

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Lets finish the induction of first batch of 59 units, before jumping for the second batch. Army should immediately give order to L & T for manufacturing 59 units.

 

[Rajesh]

The present Cummins engine gives 750HP, which gives a commendable power to weight ratio of 30 for its present weight of 25 tons.

This gave it an advantage over the Chinese Type-15 tank which has an engine of 1000 HP and a power to weight ratio of 28.5 for its weight of 35-37 tons.

The proposed 700HP engine will be underpowered.

Tank weights tend to increase due to additional armour and equipment in future. By designing and underpowered tank from the initial stage we are designing doom and opening the field for imports.

The need is to design a 750-800 HP engine that will take care of future enhancements.