India's New 'Zorawar' Light Tank Undergoes Rigorous Testing

India's New 'Zorawar' Light Tank Undergoes Rigorous Testing


India's ambitious Light Tank project, known as Zorawar, is making major strides. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced the tank is undergoing intensive testing at Larsen & Toubro's facility, paving the way for its potential deployment in challenging mountainous regions.

Designed for speed and versatility, the Zorawar is built for rapid deployment in difficult terrain. It's strategically air-transportable, boasts an impressive cruising range, and can maneuver with ease due to its low ground pressure. These features ensure the tank can be operationalized swiftly in remote border areas.

Beyond mobility, the Zorawar packs a punch. It features a high power-to-weight ratio for rapid battlefield maneuvering, along with advanced firepower, enhanced protection systems, state-of-the-art surveillance, and top-notch communication systems. This makes it a formidable force against armored threats, low-flying aircraft, and enemy fortifications.

Currently, the Zorawar is undergoing internal testing at L&T's Hazira facility. Engineers are meticulously evaluating its automotive performance, software systems, stabilization, and other core elements. After these initial tests, the tank will be subjected to field trials during the summer to prove its mettle in real-world environments.

The final and most challenging test for the Zorawar will be high-altitude deployment. This will rigorously examine its ability to perform under the extreme conditions found in India's mountainous border regions.

The progress of the Zorawar Light Tank project marks a significant step forward for India's defense capabilities. If successful, this versatile tank has the potential to enhance operational effectiveness in the country's most challenging territories.
 
Designing started in 16 th sep 2022 and trials going to start in April 2024 they took 1.5 years to complete this how fast you want.
Trials have already started. Developmental trials. And in Sep 2022, they got the go ahead for making prototypes. Designing had started before that.
 
What's LT's contribution - engine, gearbox, steering, braking system, turret rotating drive, barrel, tracks, drive sprocket, rolling wheels, periscopes, smoke grenade launchers, auxilliary power system, air conditioning system etc etc? Fellows just painted LT logo on the ELTA HF AESA radars imported from Israel? In case of K9 Vajra, direct import from Techwin would've cost us only Rs 23-25 crores apiece, but LT charged Rs 45-50 crores apiece for assembling CKD kits with Indian hardware to qualify as ATMANIRBHAR product.
BEL upgraded 200 Air Defence Guns under a contract worth Rs 575 Crores & the guns have been deployed on Arunachal Pradesh borders with China. Why the upgrade of 220 AD Guns by LT should cost Rs 6,000 Crores - why so much premium to promote defense production in private sector under ATMANIRBHAR?
That’s the problem with socialists. Give ridiculous amounts at the onset and then keep increasing the price and delay. The reason for premium is clear when you look at Vajra vs Dhanush. You have to pay if you want to get the systems in time with 70% indigenization. The result is how L&T is now able to make the light tank and the FICV while OFB is busy just upgrading the electronics on Bofors.
 
The project has made comparatively quick progress, undoubtedly due to L&T. And it is good that India gains some experience developing this class of vehicle.

HOWEVER, could we not have purchased the Russian Sprut? Full name of the vehicle is 2S25 Sprut-SD.

Look at the specs:
125mm gun Vs 105mm of the Zorawar
18 tonnes Vs 25 tonnes of the Zorawar
510 HP engine Vs 750 HP of the Zorawar (admittedly less powerful)

And I imagine it has similar armour protection.

We have a long history of buying Russian weapon systems and then manufacturing them ourselves through technology transfer. Why not in this case as well?
 
So confusing ..what happened, trial was supposed to start 2-3 months back!!! They r still "Gearing up"??? When the agencies & forces will be serious towards national security???
It was in development trails, which were conducted by DRDO, and now they are being handed over to army for user trails. Theres a difference.
 
Yeh log kuch jyada hi testing nahin karte hain?

How many years were the M777 and Apache AH-64 evaluated for before induction?

Any guesses?
Bro most of them are developmental trials. The 6 years I mentioned for ATGM are just trials by DRDO. That means the missile wasn’t ready for evaluation by army and was under development till that point. It’s a part of development itself. So the scientists are taking that long to make it. How long were similar systems under development by the west? Any guesses? Armed forces in their part finish the trials pretty quickly. We need to differentiate between developmental trials and user trials. Can’t out the entire blame on the military if the product is just not ready.
 
Actually ZORWAR has progressed well if you compare to DRDOs other projects.
yes indeed. Their benchmark is too low compared to other international players. We need to up it....meaning need more speed and no compromise in quality. That means more manpower and resources must be provided.
 
yes indeed. Their benchmark is too low compared to other international players. We need to up it....meaning need more speed and no compromise in quality. That means more manpower and resources must be provided.
You dont realky require speed at high altitudes. Instead High power engines , Main Guns , adequate armoured protection , anti drone system are more critical . Afterall Tanks need to be maneuverable for which Power to weight ratio should be adequate.
And FYI there are not many lightweight tanks available with western countries.
 
The list is long buddy. Mahindra, Tata and others have got contracts and have even completed deliveries of many. (Some designed by themselves, others are foreign designs) I can name a few but don’t know which ones are foreign designs and which ones are indigenous designs so I will refrain from doing that.

As for drones, again, many designs have been inducted. At the top is probably the swarm drone system, sourced from 2 or more manufacturers. Army has already inducted those. Many many more are there. You can probably google and find out.
Let him figure out...there are too many people fishing for information here...no need to spoonfeed them with exact names.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
3,259
Messages
20,592
Members
862
Latest member
Girish Bhilware
Back
Top