Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT)

sathya

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:thumb: Improving the Arjun's already great suspension




One of the distinctive features of the Arjun tank is its hydro-pneumatic suspension, distinct from and far more advanced than the "torsion bar" arrangement that conventional MBTs (including the T-90) feature. The Arjun's suspension provides a smoother ride, making the tank a more stable gunnery platform that permits more accurate engagement of targets whilst on the move.
The Arjun Mark II features an enhanced version of the Arjun's well-proven hydro-pneumatic suspension, with the new one designed for a 70-tonne load. This is part of an improved "running gear", including the road wheel mountings, the road wheels, axle arms and shock absorbers.
The new suspension has already been tested in the recent trials and run for 1,300 kilometers. In order to obtain an accurate comparison with the earlier suspension, the trial tank was fitted with both: the old suspension on the left side and the new one on the right. The photographs — in which the new suspension still looks new while the old suspension looks somewhat the worst for wear (not surprising; 1,300 km is a lot of running!) — point to a successful upgrade.
The Arjun's suspension will be practically all-Indian. The road wheels, which continue to be built by Sundaram Industries, have been improved with better manufacturing and bonding processes for the rubber. Tractor Engineeers Ltd (TENGL), an L&T company, is doing parallel development of the Arjun track (imported so far), including development of one of the most difficult running gear technologies: the track pins.
I am amused at the many who appear to believe that the Arjun is "built entirely of foreign components" that are "hammered together in India". This kind of view is rooted in a deep lack of understanding of the processes of indigenisation. It is true that almost 60% of the cost of the Arjun goes on imported components. Practically all of that goes on just three components — the power pack; the gunner's main sight (GMS); and the gun control equipment (GCE). Almost all the Arjun's other 10,000-odd component are sourced from Indian industry, which is rising to the challenge. More support from the government, in terms of better procurement procedures, would accelerate this.
 
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Galaxy

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A decade after Russia contracted to provide technology for building 1,000 T-90S tanks in India, just 150 tanks have actually been built. Pictured here, completed T-90S tanks at Heavy Vehicle Factory (HVF), Avadi
 

Param

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A decade after Russia contracted to provide technology for building 1,000 T-90S tanks in India, just 150 tanks have actually been built. Pictured here, completed T-90S tanks at Heavy Vehicle Factory (HVF), Avadi
Were those 150 built from scratch or were they assembled with SKD and CKD kits?
 

sayareakd

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posted by Kunal sir in different thread.

since lot of modifications we discuss in Arjun has been made in MK-mark II, hope they will improve further in Arjun 2 (FMBT) tank.
 
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Kunal Biswas

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posted by Kunal sir in different thread.

since lot of modifications we discuss in Arjun has been made in MK-mark II, hope they will improve further in Arjun 2 (FMBT) tank.
Sir, the present sensor suit from F-INSAS system can be modified for this system, Coz the person is not diving in water or mud nor exposed to extreme high temperature, And the guy is not moving much either..

The disadvantage of Foot solider with electronic system is not with mounted solider..
 
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JayChennai

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Only 3 systems on Arjun which are imported makes it so costly and increases the amount of imported content..one of them is the engine
 

hitesh

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why IA gone for rifled gun than smooth bore?

cos,a rifled gun will fire a projectile more accurately and with greater range, but at a somewhat lower velocity, because the rifling actually carves grooves into the projectile as it travels down the barrel. The spin imparted to the projectile gives it better aerodynamic properties, but the lower velocity means less energy is delivered to the target by momentum.

However, the main source of a tank round's damage is its explosive charge, not its momentum. The two basic types are high explosive and armor piercing, and there are lots of variations.
 

ace009

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why IA gone for rifled gun than smooth bore?

cos,a rifled gun will fire a projectile more accurately and with greater range, but at a somewhat lower velocity, because the rifling actually carves grooves into the projectile as it travels down the barrel. The spin imparted to the projectile gives it better aerodynamic properties, but the lower velocity means less energy is delivered to the target by momentum.

However, the main source of a tank round's damage is its explosive charge, not its momentum. The two basic types are high explosive and armor piercing, and there are lots of variations.
Yes and no.
Rifles barrels and rounds were important BEFORE computerised fire controls were developed. However, with the advent of automated fire controls, the accuracy of the smooth bores are ALMOST if not totally at per with the Rifled barrels. On the other hand, the velocity of the rifled barrel is indeed much less than that of a smooth-bore and it is important for KE (Kinetic energy) based rounds like the APDS rounds. Actually the APFSDS rounds are LESS suited for a rifled barrel than the smoothbores. The spin from the rifled barrels DECREASE the KE penetration and partly nullify the effectiveness of the fin-stabilization. Which is a major reason why most nations are moving forward to a smoothbore gun on their tanks.
 

Austin

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I have read since the APFSDS keep getting longer , the effects of spin on that would cause it to tumble ....so in the future if APFSDS keeps getting longer for Arjun then they would be better off not spinning it.
 

Galaxy

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Upgraded Arjun to undergo trials in Pokhran soon


Dec 2, 2011


JAIPUR: The Mark II version of Arjun main battle tank (MBT) will undergo field trials in January and June next year at the Pokhran field firing range. The successful trials at Pokhran would be a green signal for building 124 Arjun Mark IIs at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi near Chennai. These will supplement the 124 Arjun Mark I already in service.
MORE @ TOI
 

sathya

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The Mark II version of Arjun main battle tank (MBT) will undergo field trials in January and June next year at the Pokhran field firing range.

In March 2010, after the Arjun outperformed the Russian T-90S in performance trials in Rajasthan, the Army inducted 124 Arjun tanks into service. But the army has made a follow-on order on the condition that 93 improvements shall be made in the Mark II version, including 19 major modifications, said Col S D Goswami, defence spokesperson.

The Arjun Mark II's most remarkable feature is its extra weight – 3 to 4 tonnes more than the earlier 62-tonne Arjun. For years, the army criticised the Arjun as too heavy for India's road and rail infrastructure. But now it wants modifications that will make the Arjun heavier.

Fitting Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) plates on the tank has boosted crew protection, but it also increases the weight by one-and-a-half tonnes. An equivalent increase comes from the added mine ploughs, which churn up the ground ahead of the tank, uprooting explosive mines that would otherwise blow up the tank. During trials this summer, the Arjun had demonstrated a crucial modification in the transmission system that makes the 65-66 tonne Arjun Mark II more agile than the lighter, 62-tonne Arjun Mark I.

"We ran the modified Arjun for 1,300 kilometres, gradually loading dead weight until it was 65.5 tonnes. We demonstrated that its performance, acceleration, torque, working temperature and fuel consumption were better than the Arjun Mark I," said DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta. The Arjun Mark II does just 60 kmph, compared with the 70 kmph top speed of the Arjun Mark.

Earlier, the army was criticizing Arjun for its heavy weight. But its cross-country performance was commendable, said the spokesman and same was endorsed by Israel Military Industries, which did a third-party evaluation of the Arjun. Another crucial improvement in the Mark II is the tank commander's thermal imaging (TI) night sight, which replaces the day-only sight of the earlier Arjun. Now, the Arjun can operate at night in "hunter-killer" mode – the commander as hunter and the gunner as killer. The commander scans the battlefield through his new TI sight; the targets that he spotted are electronically allocated to the gunner to destroy, while he returns to hunting for more targets. The Mark II also equips the driver with a new night vision device based on "un-cooled thermal imaging," allowing him to clearly see 300-500 metres, even on a pitch-dark night.

"Four major modifications – the mobility performance at 65.5 tonnes; the commander's night sight; the driver's night vision device, and ammunition containerisation – were validated this summer," said an official.

In the coming January a new capability will be tested-missile firing through the Arjun Mark II's main gun. A "laser warning counter measure system" will be integrated in June user trials at Pokhran field firing range next year. This senses the laser beam that incoming missiles ride, giving just 10-15 seconds of reaction time. Within milliseconds, the system automatically launches smoke grenades, creating a smokescreen around one's own tank that leaves the missile operator without a target to aim at, said a DRDO official.
 
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