India unveils light tank designed for operations near the China border

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — India unveiled a prototype Zorawar light tank this month, as defense officials seek nimbler armored fighting vehicles suitable for the mountainous terrain along the border with China, where violence broke out in mid-2020.

Delhi released a request for information for new light tanks in April 2021, and it is unprecedented for India to produce a prototype armored vehicle so quickly.

The Zorawar results from public-private collaboration, with Larsen & Toubro (L&T for short) cooperating with the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation, or DRDO. It was unveiled at L&T’s plant in Hajira, Gujarat.

The Indian Army has so far ordered 59 tanks, but Samir V. Kamath, DRDO’s chief, said the Zorawar would not be ready until 2027.

Kamath noted the prototype had been produced in just a two-and-a-half-year period. “And now the first prototype will undergo development trials over the next six months, and then we’ll be ready to offer it to our users for user trials,” he said.

First up are desert and high-altitude trials, before the Indian Army runs its own extensive tests.

Arun Ramchandani, executive vice President of L&T, said: “It has been a big effort, a joint effort between DRDO and L&T. … Nowhere in the world has a new product been deployed in such a short time.”

Despite these predictions, Indian defense procurements are renowned for being late. Neither DRDO nor L&T immediately replied to Defense News when asked about their confidence in the schedule.

Rahul Bhonsle, director of Delhi-based Security Risks Consultancy, said: “In this case there’s greater confidence, as L&T has a good record of delivery. It delivered K9 Vajra guns ahead of schedule.”

He added, “Much will depend on how the trials go, and the army continuing steadfast with laid-down general staff qualitative requirements.”

Although India’s mantra is defense indigenization, the Zorawar borrows much foreign technology. For example, it features a Cockerill 3105 turret from Belgium; Safran Paseo sights from France; and a foreign engine.”

It is unclear whether the prototype employs a Cummins VTA903E-series or MTU 8V199 TE21 engine, nor which type will be selected for production.

The 105mm main gun features an autoloader, meaning only three crewmen are required. There is also a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and turret-mounted 12.7mm remote weapon station. Additionally, two antitank missiles are carried on the turret.

The vehicle runs on composite rubber tracks, and side-mounted sponsons indicate it is amphibious. It will apparently integrate drones and loitering munitions.

The Zorawar is far lighter than existing tanks of the Indian Army, meaning it is better suited to countering 36-ton Type 15 tanks of the People’s Liberation Army in mountainous areas.

Delhi’s December 2022 military project approval listed a requirement for 315 light tanks.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on July 16 to correct an attribution.

Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in New Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries around the Asia-Pacific region.

新西兰基督城——印度本月推出了佐拉瓦尔轻型坦克原型车，国防官员正在寻求更灵活的装甲战车，以适应与中国接壤的山区地形，该地区在 2020 年年中爆发了暴力冲突。

印度德里于 2021 年 4 月发布了新型轻型坦克的信息征询书，印度如此迅速地生产出装甲车原型是前所未有的。

佐拉瓦尔导弹是公私合作的成果，由拉森特博洛公司（简称L&T）与国营的国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）合作研发。该导弹在L&T位于古吉拉特邦哈吉拉的工厂正式亮相。

印度陆军迄今已订购了 59 辆坦克，但印度国防研究与发展组织 (DRDO) 主席萨米尔·V·卡马特表示，佐拉瓦尔坦克要到 2027 年才能准备就绪。

卡马斯指出，原型机仅用了两年半的时间就制作完成。“现在，第一个原型机将在接下来的六个月里进行开发试验，之后我们将准备好将其提供给用户进行试用，”他说。

首先是沙漠和高海拔试验，之后印度陆军才会进行自己的大规模测试。

L&T执行副总裁阿伦·拉姆钱达尼表示：“这是印度国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）和L&T共同努力的成果……世界上没有任何一个新产品能在如此短的时间内投入使用。”

尽管有这些预测，印度国防采购历来以延误而闻名。当被问及对进度安排的信心时，印度国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）和拉森特博洛公司（L&T）均未立即回复《防务新闻》的询问。

德里安全风险咨询公司总监拉胡尔·邦斯勒表示：“在这种情况下，我们更有信心，因为L&T公司有着良好的交付记录。它提前交付了K9 Vajra防空炮。”

他补充说：“很大程度上取决于试验的进展情况，以及军队是否会继续坚定不移地执行总参谋部制定的质量要求。”

尽管印度的口号是国防自主化，但佐拉瓦尔坦克却借鉴了许多外国技术。例如，它采用了比利时的科克里尔3105型炮塔、法国的赛峰帕塞奥瞄准具以及外国发动机。

目前尚不清楚原型车采用的是康明斯 VTA903E 系列发动机还是 MTU 8V199 TE21 发动机，也不清楚量产车型会选择哪种发动机。

这门105毫米主炮配备自动装弹机，因此只需要三名炮组人员即可操作。此外，它还配备一挺同轴7.62毫米机枪和一套安装在炮塔上的12.7毫米遥控武器站。炮塔上还携带两枚反坦克导弹。

该车辆采用复合橡胶履带，侧面安装的侧裙板表明其具备两栖能力。据悉，它将集成无人机和巡飞弹。

佐拉瓦尔坦克比印度陆军现有的坦克轻得多，这意味着它更适合在山区对抗中国人民解放军的36吨重的15型坦克。

德里在 2022 年 12 月批准的军事项目中列出了 315 辆轻型坦克的需求。

编者按：本文已于7月16日更新，以更正出处错误。

戈登·阿瑟是《防务新闻》的亚洲特派记者。在香港工作20年后，他现居新西兰。他曾到访亚太地区约20个国家，参加过军事演习和防务展览。