India Light Tank Zorawar Ready For Trails By the End of this Month

India is on the brink of conducting trials for its domestically conceived and crafted light tank, provisionally named Zorawar, as per a report from the Economic Times. Amid heightened security concerns in remote and challenging areas, particularly in light of the India-China skirmishes from 2020 to 2022, there has been a renewed emphasis on the significance of light tanks. In the harsh high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, operating medium and heavy tanks becomes impractical, prompting the development of the Zorawar to specifically address the challenges of extreme altitudes and confrontational situations along the border with China.

Scheduled for trials this month, the Zorawar light tank is anticipated to demonstrate superior mobility and firepower compared to its Chinese counterpart, the Type 15 tank. Developed in a remarkably short timeframe, this 25-tonne category light tank is designed to meet the critical need for enhanced mobility in challenging altitudes, a key consideration given the tensions in eastern Ladakh in 2020.

The impetus for the Zorawar development stemmed from China deployment of light armor in high-altitude locations, prompting India to create a tank with a unique chassis, dispelling earlier speculations about utilizing the K9 Vajra self-propelled gun chassis. The tank, featuring a 105 mm gun manufactured by John Cockerill, is set to undergo trials in December after receiving development approval in April 2022. The collaborative efforts of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) underscore the endeavor to equip the Indian military with a highly mobile and accurate firepower platform.

Contrary to initial assumptions, the Zorawar tank is an entirely novel design, showcasing India prowess in indigenous technology. The 105 mm gun, a pivotal component, is poised for production in India to facilitate the serial production of the tanks. Noteworthy features include active protection against incoming attacks and the integration of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to augment battlefield visibility, especially in challenging terrains.

The Zorawar tank, designated for operations in diverse terrains, ranging from high-altitude areas to island territories, is designed for air transportability, ensuring rapid deployment capabilities. With expectations of outperforming the Chinese Type 15 tanks, the Zorawar is poised to provide the Indian military with a strategic advantage in the region.