New Light Battle Tank 'Zorawar' To Add Teeth To India's Mountain Warfare

India has unveiled a 25-tonne light tank designed for rapid deployment and high mobility in mountainous regions, specifically to bolster its defense posture against Chinese forces along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The tank, developed under "Project Zorawar" by Larsen & Toubro and the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), is expected to be ready for induction into service by 2027.

Photo Credit: X/ANI

The tank was developed from scratch in approximately two years to meet the Indian Army's requirement for 354 light tanks and will now undergo rigorous trials.

An official said, "It will be capable of operating in challenging conditions along LAC with minimal logistics support. The tank will demonstrate its capabilities in summer and winter trials that will be conducted in deserts and mountains during the next two years before it goes into production."

DRDO chief Samir V Kamat reviewed the first prototype at L&T's Hazira facility in Gujarat, where the tank performed some basic maneuvers.

This development is seen as a significant milestone for India's defense manufacturing sector, which has been striving to enhance its capabilities amidst ongoing tensions with China.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army has deployed several modern tanks, including light tanks with a high power-to-weight ratio, across the LAC.

The ongoing military standoff in eastern Ladakh, now in its fifth year, has underscored the need for India to strengthen its defense capabilities.

The Indian Army has stationed heavier Russian-origin T-72 and T-90 tanks in the Ladakh region, but these tanks have limitations as they were designed for operations in plains and deserts.

Officials stressed on the need for light tanks with adequate firepower, protection, surveillance, and communication capabilities, particularly after the border tensions began. The new tank capability will cost around Rs 17,500 crore.

The new tank's features are designed for high adaptability and future upgrades.

Another official said, "The tank can be transported by air and is capable of amphibious operations. It can fire at high angles of elevation and perform the role of limited artillery," adding that its modular design will accommodate future enhancements.

The tank is expected to integrate advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, drone integration, active protection systems, and superior situational awareness.

The name "Zorawar" pays homage to the legendary general Zorawar Singh, who led the Dogra forces to victories in Ladakh and Tibet between 1834 and 1841.

In May 1841, he led a 5,000-strong Dogra force into Tibet, swiftly overcoming Chinese forces and capturing their Mantalai flag.

In December 2022, the defense acquisition council gave its acceptance of necessity (AoN) for this project, greenlighting defense projects worth Rs 84,328 crore to enhance the armed forces' combat potential with new military hardware, including the light tanks.

As per Hindustan Times, under India's defense procurement rules, AoN is the first step towards acquiring military hardware.

In April 2021, the Army specified that the light tank must be versatile enough to operate in diverse terrain conditions and counter the equipment profiles of adversaries.

A follow-up note from the army outlined the envisioned capabilities of the light tank, "These tanks with superior mobility, all terrain agility, multi-layered protection, precision lethal firepower, and real-time situational awareness duly integrating niche technology will offer multiple options for rapid operational employment, enabling the army to execute operations across the entire continuum of conflict."

The unveiling of the light tank coincides with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's announcement that India recorded its highest-ever growth in local defense production for the financial year 2023-24, reaching almost Rs 1.27 lakh crore, a 17% increase from the previous year.

Of this production value, 79.2% was contributed by defense public sector undertakings and other PSUs, with the remaining 20.8% from the private sector.