Turning a challenge into an opportunity, India is going ahead with an indigenous engine for its new set of Arjun Main Battle Tanks.
India To Develop Indigenous Engine For New Arjun Tanks
Turning a challenge into an opportunity, India is going ahead with an indigenous engine for its new set of Arjun Main Battle Tanks, after a German firm selected for the project expressed its inability to deliver the power plants in time. The Army has placed an order for 118 Arjun Mk1A tanks worth ₹7523 crand deliveries are impacted as the engines have not been made available in the required quantities. The tank was to be powered by engines manufactured by a German firm, but the company has conveyed that a long timeline of almost four years will be needed for delivery, officials said.
DRDO has now started work on an indigenous option which is likely to be ready for production within three years. The DATRAN 1500 engine – being developed for the Futuristic Main Battle Tank program – is being modified to be fitted onto the new Arjun Tanks. The Mark 1-A represents a new iteration of the Arjun main battle tank, with two regiments of its predecessor having been inducted into the Army since 2004.
The new tank is supposed to come with 72 upgrades over the existing variant, including 14 major improvements. The upgrades are set to enhance the tank’s lethality, mobility and survivability. Developed by the DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment in Chennai, the tank is armed with a formidable 120 mm rifled gun and Kanchan armour.
Arjun Mk-1A Battle Tanks
Ministry of Defence placed an order with Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Chennai for supply of 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army.
Mk1A and MkII
•The development of Arjun Mk1 was followed by improved variants – Mk1A and MkII.
•Arjun Mk1A, which features improved firepower and transmission systems, completed the final integration tests in 2019 and was cleared for production.
•The Arjun MkII variant is a light-weight Futuristic Main Battle Tank (FMBT) with electro-optical sensors and high-power lasers.
