Army to induct 'Arjun' tanks in June: Army Chief

Bangalore, May 27 : The Indian Army would induct the state-of-the-art indigenously built 'Arjun' Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) by next month along with T-72 and T-90 tanks, Chief of Army Staff Gen J J Singh said today.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the flagging-off ceremony of the newly manufactured Bogie Flat Arjun Tank (BFAT) at BEML premises here, he said initially five tanks would join the force. The Army had also placed order for another 124 Arjun MBTs in view of its high performance capabilities. The induction of Arjun would increase the combat preparedness of the nation, he added.

On the delay caused in induction of the Arjun, the Army Chief said when any country develop's a state-of-the-art equipment the production cycle takes a long time.

He said Arjun has got most of the advanced features, including communication, e-firing and fire control system besides ability to survive in a NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare environment.

About procurement of more military equipment from the United States, he said the decision was left to the government.

''The equipment itself is the most important criteria for us. It has to be the best and getting it from either the US or any other source is left to the government,'' he said. However the first preference was for state-of-the-art technology produced indigenously, the Army Commander added.

UNI