Zorawar to Face Competition as AVNL Eyes Russian Collaboration for Light Tank Development

India's indigenous defence industry is gearing up for a new entrant as Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL), a public sector firm, plans to collaborate with Russian entities Rosoboronexport (ROE) and High Precision Systems (HPC) to develop and manufacture a light tank for the Indian Armed Forces. This move could significantly impact the ongoing competition for fulfilling the Indian Army's need for 295 Light Tanks under the 'Make-I' category.

The proposed joint venture, with majority ownership by AVNL and India Optel Limited (IOL), is likely to leverage Russia's Sprut-SD technology to create a light tank that will directly rival the DRDO-L&T developed Zorawar Light Tank. While Zorawar has already begun trials and secured an initial order for 59 units, the remaining 300 tanks are up for grabs, and the entry of the Sprut-SD based tank could intensify the competition.

This development underscores India's growing focus on domestic defence production and strategic partnerships. The AVNL-led joint venture not only aims to cater to the Indian Army's requirements but also explore potential export opportunities for the indigenously developed Light Tank.

Indo-Russian Collaboration: A Strategic Advantage​

Experts believe that the Indo-Russian collaboration for light tank development is a positive step, given Russia's history of technology transfer and its willingness to share critical defence technologies without imposing restrictions. This contrasts with the approach of some Western partners like the US, who are often reluctant to transfer critical technologies.

India is currently pursuing a dual approach to meet its light tank requirements. One route involves indigenous development through the DRDO and L&T, while the other focuses on collaboration with foreign partners.

The recent unveiling of the indigenous Zorawar light tank, slated for commissioning in 2027, showcases India's progress in domestic manufacturing. However, the potential collaboration with Russia offers an additional avenue to acquire advanced technology and accelerate the development process.

Sprut-SD Technology: A Game-Changer​

Russia's Sprut-SD technology, which features gun stabilization in both elevation and azimuth, significantly enhances the combat capabilities of light tanks, especially in challenging terrains like high altitudes and mountainous regions. This technology is already familiar to the Indian armed forces, as it's used in India's T-72 and T-90 tanks.

The Sprut-SDM1, a light tank based on this technology, boasts impressive mobility features like amphibious capabilities, airlift compatibility, and parachute deployment. These features make it particularly suitable for deployment in mountainous regions like Kashmir and Ladakh.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Wow, AVNL has no capability to design anythhing by itself. It should change its name to copy paste nigam limited

 

[Instant Karma]

The Russian Sprut tank will have an edge as it is 18 ton only, amphibious, can fire from inside water, has 125 mm barrels which is the same as T90 tanks and has autoloader.

zorawar tank is completely based on the Korean k 21 light tank. All features are similar.

zorawar does not have 125 mm barrel, not amphibious, no autoloader, 12 tons heavier than Sprut tank.

 

[sujit raj]

The Russian Sprut tank will have an edge as it is 18 ton only, amphibious, can fire from inside water, has 125 mm barrels which is the same as T90 tanks and has autoloader.

zorawar tank is completely based on the Korean k 21 light tank. All features are similar.

zorawar does not have 125 mm barrel, not amphibious, no autoloader, 12 tons heavier than Sprut tank.

Russian Sprut does not have any armour support, one single hit will kill entire crew inside, or drone can take it out easily

 

[Instant Karma]

Russian Sprut does not have any armour support, one single hit will kill entire crew inside, or drone can take it out easily

Neither have zorawar any armour. Anti tank missiles can kill M1 Abraham.

 

[eagle]

The Russian Sprut tank will have an edge as it is 18 ton only, amphibious, can fire from inside water, has 125 mm barrels which is the same as T90 tanks and has autoloader.

zorawar tank is completely based on the Korean k 21 light tank. All features are similar.

zorawar does not have 125 mm barrel, not amphibious, no autoloader, 12 tons heavier than Sprut tank.

Incorrect -- Zorawar was designed as amphibious -- and was designed in India, not a K-21 at all.

 

[Instant Karma]

Incorrect -- Zorawar was designed as amphibious -- and was designed in India, not a K-21 at all.

L&T has purchased the K 21 chesis and has fitted the 105 mm barrel and to support that has fitted the more powerful German engine. No, it's not a new design. Zorawar and k 21 have the same specifications.

 

[Anant]

Just going by a very brief statistical comparison of the Zorawar and the Sprut, a few things become clear.

The Sprut is 8 tons lighter (17 tons) than the Zorawar (25 tons). However, on that lighter displacement, it brings a larger main gun (125mm) as compared to the Zorawar's 105mm gun. The Zorawar carries ATGMs, which the Sprut does not, though the latter can arguably fire ATGMs from it's gun.

However, the Zorawar enjoys a better power-to-weight ratio of between 30.4 and 32.6 hp/ton, compared to the Sprut's 28.3 hp/ton. That shortfall may well impact high altitude operations.

Now, keeping all those numbers taken off the Internet aside for a minute, the Sprut has seen little confidence from the Russians themselves, with only two dozen of them in service by the early 2010s. In 2023, it was reported that mass production was about to begin, but as far as I have found, not a single new tank has been delivered in over a year.

There is another extremely important point of concern here. The fact that the Sprut carries a larger gun with similar range and speed characteristics as the Zorawar on a hull that is considerably lighter seems to indicate that the Sprut's protection may have been sidelined. Moreover, the Sprut doesn't seem to have the capability built-in to add external armour (and it's power-to-weight ratio may well then approach that of some medium tanks. On top of that, the autoloader mechanism on the Sprut is the same as that on the T-72, T-80, and T-90.

Without good protection and with that kind of risk of ammunition getting hit, there really isn't any point in getting the Sprut or variant thereof. The fact that Russia has lost over 1,535 T-72s, 925 T-80s, and 150 T-90s in Ukraine (just based on photographic evidence) is ample proof of that.

 

[Anant]

The Russian Sprut tank will have an edge as it is 18 ton only, amphibious, can fire from inside water, has 125 mm barrels which is the same as T90 tanks and has autoloader.

zorawar tank is completely based on the Korean k 21 light tank. All features are similar.

zorawar does not have 125 mm barrel, not amphibious, no autoloader, 12 tons heavier than Sprut tank.

The Zorawar is also an amphibious tank. As for firing from inside water, that sounds like a really good idea, but historically, has proven to be a nightmare to execute properly.

Now, considering the fact that the Sprut has the same (larger and heavier) gun as the T-90, the fact that both it and the Zorawar have similar ranges and speeds, and the fact that the Sprut is considerably lighter, this suggests that the Sprut is lacking significantly when it comes to armour. That would be very bad for us.

 

[Anant]

L&T has purchased the K 21 chesis and has fitted the 105 mm barrel and to support that has fitted the more powerful German engine. No, it's not a new design. Zorawar and k 21 have the same specifications.

Nope. That "chassis purchased / borrowed from the K-21" hypothesis was floated some time back, and consequently disproven. Just because both vehicles have similar-ish dimensions doesn't mean the Zorawar simply took the K-21's chassis as its own.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Typical psus. Havent learnt anything from 100 years of screwdrivergiri. Searches worldwide who product to screwdriver again and again . Rest of the days go protesting with help of unions and against private companies doing better.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Neither have zorawar any armour. Anti tank missiles can kill M1 Abraham.

Zorawar has much better armour than sprut, waight to power ratio is better, it has auto loader, it's amphibious and technical it is far better than Russian tin can. And one more thing even a child can tell Zorawar chassis is totally different from K-21.

 

[Satya Dev]

Both LT & ANVL are going to do screw driver assembly using local hardware (60-70% by number of components) to qualify under ATMANIRBHAR. But question is 'kitney me padta hai' - why can't MOD do a 'ATMANIRBHAR or import' analysis to see if we are paying double the price under ATMANIRBHAR?

 

[NSR]

Any kinds of new armaments systems acquisition from Russia will incur USA CAATSA based sanctions.
Be happy with the Zorawar tank and try to indigenize as much as possible as time goes on.
Cummins already manufactures some engines in India too so they can team up to produce their engine in India.
We need Zorwar quickly and it looks like DRDO can deliver it.

 

[Anonymus]

The Russian Sprut tank will have an edge as it is 18 ton only, amphibious, can fire from inside water, has 125 mm barrels which is the same as T90 tanks and has autoloader.

zorawar tank is completely based on the Korean k 21 light tank. All features are similar.

zorawar does not have 125 mm barrel, not amphibious, no autoloader, 12 tons heavier than Sprut tank.

18 ton means no protection on that tank what the meaning of tank when it has no protection.

 

[Anonymus]

Just going by a very brief statistical comparison of the Zorawar and the Sprut, a few things become clear.

The Sprut is 8 tons lighter (17 tons) than the Zorawar (25 tons). However, on that lighter displacement, it brings a larger main gun (125mm) as compared to the Zorawar's 105mm gun. The Zorawar carries ATGMs, which the Sprut does not, though the latter can arguably fire ATGMs from it's gun.

However, the Zorawar enjoys a better power-to-weight ratio of between 30.4 and 32.6 hp/ton, compared to the Sprut's 28.3 hp/ton. That shortfall may well impact high altitude operations.

Now, keeping all those numbers taken off the Internet aside for a minute, the Sprut has seen little confidence from the Russians themselves, with only two dozen of them in service by the early 2010s. In 2023, it was reported that mass production was about to begin, but as far as I have found, not a single new tank has been delivered in over a year.

There is another extremely important point of concern here. The fact that the Sprut carries a larger gun with similar range and speed characteristics as the Zorawar on a hull that is considerably lighter seems to indicate that the Sprut's protection may have been sidelined. Moreover, the Sprut doesn't seem to have the capability built-in to add external armour (and it's power-to-weight ratio may well then approach that of some medium tanks. On top of that, the autoloader mechanism on the Sprut is the same as that on the T-72, T-80, and T-90.

Without good protection and with that kind of risk of ammunition getting hit, there really isn't any point in getting the Sprut or variant thereof. The fact that Russia has lost over 1,535 T-72s, 925 T-80s, and 150 T-90s in Ukraine (just based on photographic evidence) is ample proof of that.

In your essay you forget to about protection which sprut lacks

 

[Instant Karma]

Both LT & ANVL are going to do screw driver assembly using local hardware (60-70% by number of components) to qualify under ATMANIRBHAR. But question is 'kitney me padta hai' - why can't MOD do a 'ATMANIRBHAR or import' analysis to see if we are paying double the price under ATMANIRBHAR?

Exactly. K 9 costs us 60 crs a piece. The orders for 100 k9 was for 6000 crs. Where as T 90 which is completely made in India costs 24 crs. Indian Army purchased 464 tanks for 13884 crs.

 

[Akshat]

In your essay you forget to about protection which sprut lacks

I did mention it. Please refer to the second to last paragraph (after the statistics).

 

[Mango_Indian]

There is no “indigenous” tank here.

L&T is making Hanhwa Techwin chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

AVNL is making Russian Sprut chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

Assembling it is the “indigenous “ game. If you “assemble” in Gujarat you are more “indigenous”.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

This is a waste of time and money, instead of going after every model available , stick to the one we chose though I would have preferred a 125mm gun for zorawar.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

There is no “indigenous” tank here.

L&T is making Hanhwa Techwin chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

AVNL is making Russian Sprut chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

Assembling it is the “indigenous “ game. If you “assemble” in Gujarat you are more “indigenous”.

Except Zorawar by DRDO

 

[rocky]

I think it is just a way to delay the orders.Till now they were sleeping. Tank testing is in middle and now .If the final order planned in next 1-2 years after now it will stretch to 4-5 year.than again someone will come with there tank to stretch 7-8 years.and finally indian army will ask for import.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

There is no “indigenous” tank here.

L&T is making Hanhwa Techwin chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

AVNL is making Russian Sprut chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

Assembling it is the “indigenous “ game. If you “assemble” in Gujarat you are more “indigenous”.

Each and every DPSU "assembles" and screw drives the foreign tech. Never saw you guys moaning about that. At least L&T in Gujrat does that within time, not like sarkari chai samosa bars taking eternity for simple screw driving.

 

[Kira]

Just going by a very brief statistical comparison of the Zorawar and the Sprut, a few things become clear.

The Sprut is 8 tons lighter (17 tons) than the Zorawar (25 tons). However, on that lighter displacement, it brings a larger main gun (125mm) as compared to the Zorawar's 105mm gun. The Zorawar carries ATGMs, which the Sprut does not, though the latter can arguably fire ATGMs from it's gun.

However, the Zorawar enjoys a better power-to-weight ratio of between 30.4 and 32.6 hp/ton, compared to the Sprut's 28.3 hp/ton. That shortfall may well impact high altitude operations.

Now, keeping all those numbers taken off the Internet aside for a minute, the Sprut has seen little confidence from the Russians themselves, with only two dozen of them in service by the early 2010s. In 2023, it was reported that mass production was about to begin, but as far as I have found, not a single new tank has been delivered in over a year.

There is another extremely important point of concern here. The fact that the Sprut carries a larger gun with similar range and speed characteristics as the Zorawar on a hull that is considerably lighter seems to indicate that the Sprut's protection may have been sidelined. Moreover, the Sprut doesn't seem to have the capability built-in to add external armour (and it's power-to-weight ratio may well then approach that of some medium tanks. On top of that, the autoloader mechanism on the Sprut is the same as that on the T-72, T-80, and T-90.

Without good protection and with that kind of risk of ammunition getting hit, there really isn't any point in getting the Sprut or variant thereof. The fact that Russia has lost over 1,535 T-72s, 925 T-80s, and 150 T-90s in Ukraine (just based on photographic evidence) is ample proof of that.

The main advantage for a 105mm main gun as opposed to more traditional 120mm/125mm ones is the higher elevation afforded to the former smaller gun,which is very crucial in high altitude mountain areas.Second point being that you can adequate rounds of shells for a 105mm in a much smaller tank as opposed to carrying far fewer rounds for the same 120mm/125mm guns.
That is why IA settled on a smaller gun for this light tank as opposed to going with larger guns,even PLA went with the same smaller gun size for their Type-15 light tank even when it weights 35 tons.
You have given very good summary of why Sprut-D is just unnecessary at this point when it is just but a "tin" can carrying a large gun,with no mobility,armour or anti-drone advantage.

 

[Kira]

Simply not required,as Zorawar at the prototype stage is much more capable and advanced than Sprut-D or even its supposed Indian variant can be,so no point in bowing down to PSU pressure where they want to steal away credible workshare from L&T.

 

[RalphRearden]

OFBs desperate attempt to preserve their screwedriver assembly mechanic workshop

 

[Sandeep]

There is no “indigenous” tank here.

L&T is making Hanhwa Techwin chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

AVNL is making Russian Sprut chassis based tank with imported turret and gun.

Assembling it is the “indigenous “ game. If you “assemble” in Gujarat you are more “indigenous”.

LT aren’t making any Hanwha chassis as it was deemed unsuitable so an indigenous chassis was developed based on our requirements on weight and armour level which Hanwha don’t meet the requirements.

The turret will be indigenously developed for the rest of the 300 tanks based on the technology they learn from the first 60 tanks they order and any ToT they receive.

Stop spreading misinformation and do your homework and comment on factual news and not made up nonsense 😂

 

[Akshat]

L&T has purchased the K 21 chesis and has fitted the 105 mm barrel and to support that has fitted the more powerful German engine. No, it's not a new design. Zorawar and k 21 have the same specifications.

Oh so K21 also has a box armor like Zorawar? And L&T managed to keep the weight at 25 tons despite adding a new engine and the 105mm gun, the weight of K21 IFV, while Hanhwa itself couldn’t do that and had to classify the tank as medium weight? 😂😂😂

 

[Sandeep]

Both LT & ANVL are going to do screw driver assembly using local hardware (60-70% by number of components) to qualify under ATMANIRBHAR. But question is 'kitney me padta hai' - why can't MOD do a 'ATMANIRBHAR or import' analysis to see if we are paying double the price under ATMANIRBHAR?

Currently DRDO and LT are going to manufacture the Zorawar tank with at least 70% made in India. The rest of the 30% foreign content will reduce as we manufacture more tanks.

Importing something directly will always be cheaper as that company has already developed the infrastructure and research and development costs. To manufacture and get more indigenous content it will cost more because we have to learn how to develop a tank and the type of technology, science and engineering involved in making it. Otherwise we can just keep importing tanks and not learn anything and be reliant on foreign countries who can decide if they want to keep supplying us those tanks or parts we need and the price they want to sell it at. We are paying more for the knowledge, education and skills.

 

[Akshat]

Neither have zorawar any armour. Anti tank missiles can kill M1 Abraham.

Zorawar has 600 mm RHA protection. That is enough to stop even Arjun’s tank killer rounds. Plus it’s a box armor, meaning that it is even more potent. Sprut on the other hand can only offer protection against 30 mm rounds. This is far lower than what IA has asked for in its RFI.