To boost the strike capability of the armed forces, the Indian Army will buy an additional 124 indigenous Arjun main battle tanks (MBT), after the armoured platform proved its worthiness against the Russian-built T-90 MBT in a gruelling trial of strength in the Thar desert.
The army had already placed orders for 124 Arjun tanks, of which about 50 tanks were handed over to it in 2009.
The Army''s decision to get additional Arjun tanks comes after the Defence Ministry asked it to objectively study reports of the trials of the Arjun tanks during the recent exercises.
Ministry of Defence spokesperson, Sitanshu Kar, said, "This is over and above the existing order of 124 tanks. The development follows the success of the indigenous MBT Arjun."
During six months of trials, the DRDO, along with tank crews from the Army''s 43 Armoured Regiment, proved not only the Arjun's endurance, but also the ability of its computer-controlled gun to consistently blow away small-sized targets placed a kilometre away, during the trials conducted at the Mahajan Ranges near Bikaner in Rajasthan.
"After many years of trial and tribulation, it has now proved its worth by its superb performance under various circumstances, such as driving cross-country over rugged sand dunes, detecting, observing and quickly engaging targets and accurately hitting targets - both stationary and moving -with pin-point accuracy," Kar said.
"Its superior fire power is based on accurate and quick target acquisition capability during day and night in all types of weather and shortest possible reaction time during combat engagements," he added.
The MBT Arjun, today, remains a contemporary battle tank and far superior than the T-54, T-55, and T-72 tanks that the Army has been using over the years.
The T-90S and the MBT Arjun have their special features. The MBT Arjun has more power to weight ratio, hydro-pneumatic suspension for better ride comfort and a stable platform to fire on the move, better quality class of Gun Control System and Fire Control System etc.
The Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, near Chennai, is producing the 60-tonne tank.
What is wrong with the Indian Armed forces? Why would they want to order this weapon system - superior on the battlefield to the Russian systems as it is - if they don't have the logistical wherewithal to transport the system to the frontlines? DRDO have outdone themselves on this one! How about designing a 200 ton tank that outperforms everything on the battlefield in terms of firepower, but with zero maneuverability and can't use any of the highways or railway tracks in India, next, guys?
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