Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT)

[Kunal Biswas]

Firepower is equal to Arjun MK1 where as the mobility is of T-90s ..

Is there any comparison between Arjun Mk I vs Tank-Ex w.r.t. range and accuracy?

 

[Shaitan]

Arjun Based Recovery Vehicle

 

[Shaitan]

Arjun Based Armour Recovery Vehicle

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[shuvo@y2k10]

the scientists standing in front of AARV is blocking the picture of the magnificent beast

Also there seems to have included the RCWS of arjun mk 2 on the top of AARV.

 

[Shaitan]

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[shuvo@y2k10]

I think this is the latest configuration.
Other pics from the presentaion

In the 2nd image if you zoom on the top right I think it shows 1500 Hp engine being developed for arjun (not sure).

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

This will be their second attempt to build a 1500 hp engine. Ironically their first attempt in the late 70s was succesfull but the engine was not adopted and we went on to import the 1400 hp mtu german engine.

 

[Aditya Prakash]

This will be their second attempt to build a 1500 hp engine. Ironically their first attempt in the late 70s was succesfull but the engine was not adopted and we went on to import the 1400 hp mtu german engine.

From what I remember (having read sometime in teenage) the first CVRDE attempt at 1500hp tank engine was abandoned after it couldn't produce beyond 700hp or thereabouts. For our country to come up with a 1500hp tank mountable engine in the 70s, would have been too big a scientific / engineering feat, given the total lack of engine design capability /culture existant at that time (beyond agricultural pumpset engines). Even the Germans could come up with 1500hp and upwards MTU 883 engines, only by mid 1980s. Their 60s/70s design the MTU838Ka501 (Arjun /Leopard 1 Powerpack) is restricted to 1400hp, that too with high fuel consumption by modern standards.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

1500HP engine ..

Test facility

Turbo charger

Some specs and photos for Bharat Pack 1500hp engine ..

 

[Steven Rogers]

Some specs and photos for Bharat Pack 1500hp engine ..

Has the project completed........

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Their is no information available yet on the project status except its active ..

Has the project completed........

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

From what I remember (having read sometime in teenage) the first CVRDE attempt at 1500hp tank engine was abandoned after it couldn't produce beyond 700hp or thereabouts. For our country to come up with a 1500hp tank mountable engine in the 70s, would have been too big a scientific / engineering feat, given the total lack of engine design capability /culture existant at that time (beyond agricultural pumpset engines). Even the Germans could come up with 1500hp and upwards MTU 883 engines, only by mid 1980s. Their 60s/70s design the MTU838Ka501 (Arjun /Leopard 1 Powerpack) is restricted to 1400hp, that too with high fuel consumption by modern standards.

I already posted it on Arjun MK2 thread a while back. Reposting it here:

CVRDE developed a 1500 hp a tank engine way back in the late 70's. Only god knows why it wasn't selected and we imported the german engine.
Source : an old book on history of DRDO from 1958-1982 (page 267) by Ramadas Shenoy.
https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/Defence_Research_and_Development_Organisation.pdf
Last para :

Hence it would be better to assume DRDO was better in engine design & developement in 70s compared to the Germans.

 

[S.Balaji]

Their is no information available yet on the project status except its active ..

I was at the DRDO expo in Chennai 3 months ago, CVRDE people said the Bharat Power Pack is awaiting design validation..... decision being awaited whether to bring in MTU or any similar entity as validating consultant. CVRDE wants this to be a winner n they dont want any niggles in design... they prefer to get it right in design stage itself. Prototyping will come after design validation.

 

[The Ultranationalist]

Intro- Ever wondered why would a country which operates Russian tanks would develop a main battle tank on the lines of modern western MBTs? with its performance parameters closely resembling tanks like Leopard 2, M1 Abrams and Challenger 2. A tank which would be very different compared to the primary MBT operated by them. The answer is simple, to counter a western tank you need a similar tank. This tank would counter a western tank being actively marketed to the arch rival of this tank’s operator. In this article, we will have a look on the Arjun MBT, the first tank designed and built by India. This tank was never really accepted by its primary operator, which will be explained as well in this article. It is one of the most comprehensive articles ever written on Arjun tank, taking into account various factors that played a role in its development, deployment and service.

Vijayanta tanks on the roll

The Indo-Pak war of 1971 had left a lasting mark on Indian army’s operational procedures. Like all armed forces, it reviewed its actions, the performance of its equipment, personnel, standard operating procedures etc after the war ended. Even though they had won it comprehensively, there were some glaring problems. India operated the Soviet T-55s ,the British Vickers Mk1 and its locally produced variant named Vijayanta during the conflict. These tanks faced a lot of problems while operating in the tough Indian subcontinent conditions. Thus a requirement for a domestically designed and built tank was put up, which could be designed ground up to operate specifically in the region. Hence the project was started in 1974 with initial requirements set at 105mm main gun on a 40 tonne tank. The Indians greatly respected the Royal Ordnance L7 105mm rifled gun. It was an accurate tank killer and was capable of firing the HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) round, which didnt need penetration of armor to score the kill. Its shockwave was enough to injure the crew and damage the tank. Infact they fitted T-55s, imported from the Soviet Union with the same gun to improve its capability.


Indian T-55s with L7 gun (Credits-On the pic)

In 1974, another event, which would play a major role in the development happened. India conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran and the world reacted with sanctions, thus weakening the Indian economy and its armed forces. The requirement for this tank was changed time and again to suite future conflicts in the region. Side by side, India wanted to procure another tank which would stand up incase Arjun didnt deliver on the promises. T-72M was selected over western tanks, even though it didnt meet some requirements, especially the HESH capability. It was similar in weight to the Vijanyanta tank and was cheap to operate and maintain. The political condition played a part in this procurement as well, as India had gone close to USSR even though it was a Non-Aligned Country. Thus the T-72M was procured off shelf at the start, followed by domestic production. It would form the backbone of the Indian army’s armored regiments for decades. India would end up procuring a 2400 strong fleet of these tanks.

The requirements for the new tank were changed again in the 1980s as a new tank was now being heavily marketed to Pakistan, which had a history of operating advanced American hardware. M1 Abrams was now being offered to Pakistan, another cutting edge American weapon system, which India feared would tip the advantage during a tank conflict in their favor. India was now under sanctions,thus couldn’t import western tanks, T-72Ms were few and early analysis showed that M1 was a beast of a tank and thus the Indians faced a major dilemma. M1 which was developed to make up for the cancelled MBT-70, a joint project between USA and West Germany, had a similarly capable German counterpart. This tank, following the German tradition of naming tanks after wild cats was named Leopard 2 and was an apt successor to its predecessor the Leopard 1. It sported a diesel engine instead of Abrams’s turbine which made it more reliable and longer ranged while sharing the same gun. The Leo 2 thus became an attractive option for the Indians, but they couldn’t import it directly due to the sanctions. Hence the Indians hired its designers as advisers in the Arjun programme. This answers the similarity between Arjun and Leo 2 MBTs. Thus M1 which was supposed to fight along side its German counterpart in Europe would now face a tank similar to Leo 2 as its enemy if it entered service with Pakistan.

The undeniable similarities

The tank was now supposed to be around 60 tonnes, sport a 120mm rifled gun with HESH capability thus capable of blunting the edge given by M1 to its adversary. Indians stuck to a rifled gun, developed using the technology of the L7 105mm gun due to its combat performance. It would have advanced sights and FCS so that the enemy could be spotted early and stopped in its tracks. The powerpack however was another problem. Due to the sanctions, German exported the older 1400bhp instead of the 1500bhp engine which powered the Leo 2. The ammo storage was derived from the Leo 2, ie rounds placed in individual canisters in the turret bustle and canisters in the hull beside the driver. Prototypes were developed around mid 1980s and had a tonne of problems. The rectification of these problems took a long time as this was the first tank being developed by the Indians.

Early Arjun prototypes (Credits-On the pic)

The delays were further extended by another event. In 1988, M1 performed poorly during trials in Pakistan and was thereby not procured. The tank missed most of its targets and broke down during the trials. Several modifications were thus done to the tank before it took part in upcoming conflicts in the middle east. Thus there wasn’t any need for Arjun as the prime adversary would not enter service. The speed of the programme was reduced as the army which was happy with the T-72M and its 125mm main gun and didnt want a new expensive tank. It would strain the established supply chains thanks to different components, ammo and weight, thus adding operational costs. The operational costs mattered alot as the Indian economy was not that strong and the defense spending was much lower than required. Although labelled indigenous, it had high foreign content, increasing the costs of operations even further. It was put on the back burner and the development was painstakingly slow.

Arjun Mk1 would only enter service in 2004 with the Indian army. Only 124 of the Mk1 variant were ordered. Less number didnt mean it wasn’t a capable tank. Its domestically developed Kanchan armor withstood hits from 3BM-42 Mango APFSDS round, the best the Russians exported. It sported FCS and gunner’s sight designed by Sagem, whereas the commander has his own panoramic sight. A crew of 4 operates the tank, it is commanded by a commander, driven by a driver and the main gun is operated by the gunner and the rounds are loaded by the loader. Indians didn’t want an autoloader, as it made maintenance difficult and persisted with a 4 man crew. They stuck with ammo arrangement seen in the Leo 2 and thus avoided the carousel storage seen on T-72Ms, which mad e it infamous for blowing up when hit. The turret is fairly similar to that of Leo 2, including placement of gunner’s sight, turret mantle, commander’s sight. The tank was powered by a 1400bhp engine of German origin and 7 roadwheels with hydro-pneumatic suspension would propel its 58 tonne bulk. The tank, along with internal fuel can carry 2 external tanks, akin British Challenger 2s and all Russian tanks.



A follow on order for MK1 was planned but never placed, but an improved Mk2 variant was ordered. The Mk2 sported around 60 improvements over the Mk1 and reduced imported content considerably. It sported domestically made sights, FCS, a new ERA, a better engine and several small and unseen improvements internally. Around 120 or so were ordered initially, but another 118 have been ordered as per speculations. Several other variants of Arjun are under development too. A bridge layer variant has been completed along with an self propelled howitzer using 130mm Catapult gun. A combat engineering vehicle is under development. With Denel out of blacklist, of the Indian MoD, there are chances that Bhim SPH ie Arjun chassis equipped with Denel T6 turret might be revived as well.

Bhim SPH (Credits-On the pic)

Indian army is known to have faced a lot on controversies due to this tank. They claimed it was difficult to transport on the existing logistical system used for the T-72M and T-90S. They also claimed that operating this tank would also need extensive changes in maintenance system as it is very different from what they were operating. All of these claims have been rubbished by the Indian MoD over the years and hence the army accepted Arjun-Catapult SPH and a second batch of over 100 Arjun MK2.

Arjun Bridge Layer Tank

 

[The Ultranationalist]

Arjun-Catapult SPH (Credits-On the pic)

Interestingly if you think that this tank was entirely useless after its eternal enemy never entered service, you are completely wrong. India would order the T-90S to counter the Pakistani purchase of T-80UD tanks from Ukraine. T-90S is an export variant of the T-90A operated by the Russian army. T-90 was based on the T-72B, thus fitted well into Indian army’s existing supply chain and further strengthened its armored regiments. Over 1600 such tanks have been officially ordered till date. Sadly, Russia never transferred all the tech needed for domestic production for which India had signed. It was done after importing 120 tanks off the shelf, 90 in semi knock down kits, 100 in complete knock down kits. Another order for 330 T-90S was placed, these tanks were also bought in knock down kits. After this was completed, domestic production was supposed to start for the rest of the tanks, but without the technology for the main gun, base armor and source codes required to programme the FCS it wasn’t possible. The experience gained with Arjun thus came in handy. All the technology developed for it was thus used to make up for the lacking stuff in T-90 production. Reportedly, the T-90S operated by India sports domestic base armor, a domestic 125mm smooth bore main gun instead of the 2A46M-5 Russian gun, and a domestic FCS. India is also developing a new ERA for future upgrades of T-90S and Arjun tanks. The existing T-90s will be upgraded in future with indigenous systems developed after the base for such systems was created for Arjun.

Arjun MK2 is a beast!!

Another use of Arjun’s tech was found in local upgrades of T-72M. India received monkey models which were no where as good as the T-72B variants used by the Soviets and the Russians and hence India started an upgrade of existing tanks to improve their combat capability. Initially components from different countries were used but presently a domestic engine, domestic sights, probably a domestic FCS and Arjun’s ERA is being developed for upgrading the T-72M to Ajeya standard. Another proposal was to replace the turret of T-72 with all of its drawbacks with a variant of Arjun’s turret. Two prototypes were built but the program didn’t take off as Russia didn’t allow the Indians to upgrade its fleet. They offered new hulls to be mated with Arjun turrets which would have been the same as buying new tanks. This promising program was thus scrapped.

Ex-Tank prototypes, shortened Arjun turret mated with T-72 hull

Arjun vs Tank Ex (Credits-On the pic)

Overall Arjun programme was a mixture of success and failure. It failed to be the primary MBT in Indian service and form the new backbone of Indian tank regiments whereas it succeeded in developing a domestic tank industry which could be used as base for the next generation tanks. There is another tank in development labelled FMBT (Future Main Battle Tank) which wont face as many problems as Arjun did thanks to the existing base. Army has proposed to cancel it and produce successive variants of Arjun to fill up the role. Recently Army issued an RFI which indirectly aims at procuring tanks akin the Russian Armata programme. Thus the Arjun still faces international competition for service in its primary operator, a condition unheard of in most of the cases of domestic tank production. Most countries with domestic tanks, for eg Leopard 2 for Germany, K1 and K2 for South Korea, M1 Abrams for USA, Challenger 2 for UK, Le Clerc for France, T-90A for Russia, Type 99 for China, Type 90 and the new Type 10 for Japan, T-64 Bulat and T-84M for Ukraine, the upcoming Altay for Turkey etc will form or have formed the backbone for their country’s tank formations but in India, imported tanks inferior to the domestically produced option still form the backbone of Indian tank formations. Only time will tell what the Indians will do with their tank force.

 

[The Ultranationalist]

https://battle-machines.org/2015/06/27/arjun-indias-first-mbt/

 

[R A Varun]

though i am a great fan of the arjun mbt i

i have a small doubt from many days,

what is the leather cloth like material in the turret, near the barrel starting can any one please let me know what it is;

 

[R A Varun]

if the turret is shortened for the tank ex model, what are the things that are removed from the stuctures, and what is the difference between both.

 

[Chinmoy]

though i am a great fan of the arjun mbt i

i have a small doubt from many days,

what is the leather cloth like material in the turret, near the barrel starting can any one please let me know what it is;

This has been discussed in Arjun MBT II main thread.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Its simply a smaller turret to fit on T-72M1 chassis, The Kanchan Armour used in EX was a lighter version than that used on Arjun MK1 ..

if the turret is shortened for the tank ex model, what are the things that are removed from the stuctures, and what is the difference between both.