TN: Antony inspects MBT Arjun at Avadi

Chennai, Jul 3 (UNI) Defence Minister A K Antony reviewed the various works during a day-long visit at the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) at Avadi yesterday.

Defence sources here today said the objective of the minister's visit was to discuss the progress of production of the main battle tank Arjun.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had cleared the production of 124 Arjun tanks at the Avadi CVRDE unit. The induction of tanks into the Indian Army will take place in a phased manner, the sources added.

During the visit, the minister also inspected other products of the CVRDE, including improved Ajeya Tank, Carrier Morter Tracked Vehicle, Armoured ambulance, missile carrier vehicles, self propelled artillery gun system, armoured recovery vehicle and bridge layer tank.

Later, Mr Antony, accompanied by scientific advisor M Natarajan and Secretary Defence production K P Singh, visited the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, to see the production facilities of MBT Arjun, T-90 and T 72 tanks and witnessed the demonstration of medium fording capabilities of MBT Arjun, the sources added.

UNI