Future Zorawar Light Tank Batches to Get Indigenous 800HP Engine and Transmission, Potentially Ending US Engine Dependency

India is taking a significant step towards self-reliance in its armoured vehicle capabilities, with plans to equip future batches of the Zorawar light tank with a domestically developed 800 horsepower (HP) engine and transmission.

This strategic move is set to replace the American-made Cummins engine currently used in the prototypes, thereby reducing dependency on foreign suppliers for critical defence technology.

The Zorawar light tank project was fast-tracked in response to operational challenges discovered during the 2020 border standoffs with China in the Galwan Valley.

The Indian Army found its heavier, primary battle tanks like the Russian-origin T-72 and T-90 were difficult to deploy and manoeuvre effectively in the rugged, high-altitude terrain of the Himalayas.

To address this gap, the 25-tonne Zorawar was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its partner, Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

The tank is named after General Zorawar Singh Kahluria, a 19th-century military commander renowned for his successful campaigns in Ladakh and Tibet.

The Indian Army has planned a phased induction for the Zorawar tank to balance immediate operational requirements with the long-term goal of full indigenisation. In the initial phase, an order for 54 tanks will be fulfilled by L&T at its Hazira facility.

These first units will retain the currently fitted 760 HP Cummins VTA903E-T760 engine to ensure they are delivered quickly for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This batch is slated to undergo extensive user trials over the next 18 months, aiming for full service induction by 2027.

Following the initial deployment, subsequent and larger orders for 300-400 tanks will integrate the new indigenous powerpack.

This powertrain consists of an 800 HP engine—an enhanced version of a 600 HP engine jointly developed by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) and Indian multinational Ashok Leyland—paired with a locally built automatic transmission.

This shift will significantly boost the tank's indigenous content and secure the domestic supply chain for its most vital component.

The new engine is specifically engineered for the extreme conditions of high-altitude warfare, featuring improved cold-start capabilities and greater fuel efficiency.

It is designed to provide the Zorawar with a superior power-to-weight ratio of over 30 HP/tonne, a key metric for agility in mountainous terrain.

This will enable the tank to reach speeds exceeding 70 km/h and give it a performance edge over platforms operated by adversaries, such as China's Type 15 (ZTQ-15) light tank.

Initially, India sought to procure an 800HP engine from the German company MTU, but the plan was halted by stringent European export control regulations.

As an interim solution, DRDO selected the American Cummins engine, which is also used in US military vehicles like the Bradley fighting vehicle.

While this decision allowed the project to proceed, it created a dependency that the new indigenous engine is intended to eliminate, reflecting lessons learned from supply chain issues in past defence projects.

Furthermore, the powerful 800HP engine provides a clear upgrade path for the Zorawar platform. According to DRDO, the tank's design can be scaled up to a 32-tonne variant equipped with a more formidable 120mm main gun.

The enhanced engine ensures that even this heavier version would maintain its mobility and combat effectiveness at altitudes above 15,000 feet, making the Zorawar a versatile and future-proof asset for the Indian Army.

 

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[MohitG]

Superb 👍. India's Atma-Nirbharta rising under Narendra Modi 🇮🇳

 

[Kira]

Great, hope it performs well enough though, as engine efficiency and reliability in tough conditions is a long-term task.

 

[sujit raj]

That's great future planning, the same things should be done in all projects: an incremental development and perfecting it over the years.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

That's a good thought. What are the timelines of completing tests and trials for both the engines? Do consider developing a 1,000 HP engine as well. Mid-life upgrade of the 800 HP tank may need a 1,000 HP engine.

Also, consider modifying these engines for marine use. Trawlers, yachts, speedboats can be considered as target models. Higher commonality between marine and land-based engines would mean lower costs per unit. It will also bring rewards for companies who develop such engines and more such engines would be produced in India itself.

 

[Rajesh]

At least the thought of indigenization itself is a great achievement by these import-favoring idiotic babus. The turret, gun systems should all be indigenized gradually, which will enable an ecosystem for future tanks and such platforms. Depending upon the Americans is suicide, and these backstabbing cancers should be kept away from us. Not to forget, when Tata acquires the Iveco brand, which also has a good and strong engine and transmission manufacturing division, our self-reliance will get a boost.

 

[ramdas]

Eventually, Americans might tighten the screws by imposing sanctions on spare parts for defence equipment purchases—highlighting the unreliability of strategic partnership. They have sparked a geopolitical reset, putting India at risk of facing a wave of economic sanctions that could reshape regional dynamics.

 

[Ronny]

Fantastic!! We need to cut engine dependency in all forms especially on a backstabbing unreliable country like the United States of America. We need to show them our power and in order to do that we need self sufficiency and this is the only way to achieve our goals. I'm happy to see the GOI committed to atmanirbharta goals like this and extending full support to the IAF

 

[Sandeep]

It’s absolutely critical that we 100% indigenously develop and manufacture our own engines which will be cheaper, better, efficient, effective and it will make us more self reliant. We also need to develop and manufacture our own automatic transmission and auxiliary power unit to cut down on foreign expensive imports. All of the critical parts are major parts and constitute a major part of the final price.

 

[MSN]

Although Cummins is a US company, it has a complete manufacturing plant in India that produces indigenous machinery. TATA MOTORS uses Cummins engines for the majority of heavy vehicles, which are indigenous. So if at all Cummins got an order for the supply of those engines, it will be very very cheap to Cummins to make those engines in India than import them from US.

 

[Senapati]

Good that indigenious 800hp engine and transmission system are ready for Zorawar light tank.
Congratulations.