DRDO's New Tank "Karna" MBT.

bhramos

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The original requirement was for a 40-ton tank armed with a 105mm gun, and DRDO had to start from scratch. Midway through this process, the Army changed its requirement to a 120mm gun armed heavier tank, capable of going toe-to-toe with the American Abrams tank, which Pakistan, was about to acquire from the United States in the 1980s.

Those were the benchmarks that the Arjun had to meet and the Arjun of today is more than a match for the Abrams and equivalent Western tanks in terms of armour, firepower, mobility and protection. DRDO also successfully test-fired the advanced Israeli LAHAT anti-tank missile, which has a much longer range. Pakistan still does not have missile-firing tanks, by the way.

Now, if the Arjun is not exactly what the armoured corps wanted, the blame goes equally to army officials who set the requirements along with DRDO. Can one place an order with Tata for a Sumo type vehicle, keep changing the specs and expect a vehicle with the Indica's size and cost?

While the Arjun's media trial continues, the project itself resulted in a number of successful spin-offs. For instance, the bulk of India's tank fleet comprises aging T-72 tanks, some 1,700 of which are in India's inventory. One successful upgrade effort includes the mating of the Arjun's turret with the T-72's chassis, christened the 'Karna.'

This includes the Arjun's IGMS, a state-of-the-art, homegrown fire control system, Laser Warning System, Nuclear/Biological/Chemical detection and filtration system, Land Navigation System and night vision gear. Under trials now, the Army has indicated that it could order 300 or more Karnas in the coming years.

DRDO's 125mm piercing-piercing tank round is also a direct spin-off from the Arjun MBT program. These rounds are meant for the T-72 tanks. Over 130,000 such rounds have been produced by the state-owned Ordnance Factory Board's (OFB) since 2001, saving the army over Rs 200 crores per year in foreign exchange.

Another Arjun spin-off is the 'Bhim' self-propelled gun, which mates an Arjun chassis with the lethal Denel T-6 turret from South Africa, making it a system that is unmatched in the region in terms of firepower, mobility and survivability. A Rs 2,000 crore deal for 100 such guns is reported to be signed soon.

Most dispassionate observers would agree that the above results are enough not to deem a Rs 300 crore R&D effort to build a tank from scratch a failure. And there are more Arjun spin-offs to come!

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/17spec1.htm

i did not know full info, could any one show some light on it and more information about it.
i am posting all the sources i got.
 

bhramos

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DRDO preparing 'Karna' tank

New Delhi, March 11
After the failure of its ambitious main battle tank "Arjun", the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has embarked upon the new generation "Karna" tank which can withstand a nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) attack.

The DRDO has already prepared the prototype of "Karna" and is presently conducting field tests, well-placed sources said today. It would be some time before "Karna" is made available for Army trials.

"Karna", sources claimed, would be at par with internationally leading tanks like Abrams of the USA, Leopard (Germany), Challenger (UK) and Leclerc (France).

If the "Karna" project is completed at an early date, it would be good news for the Army which badly requires new generation, indigenously-made tanks. "Arjun" was a resounding failure and was rejected a decade ago by the then Army chief Gen V.N. Sharma on grounds of technical deficiencies.

Though the Army had recently placed an order for 120 "Arjun" tanks, it was unlikely to place a new order for "Arjun", sources said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020312/nation.htm#8
 

bhramos

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i just googled about its the Tank-EX...........
but definatly T-90S will win.
what IA likes will win........
not home grown tank......
hehehehehehe
 

BunBunCake

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DRDO preparing 'Karna' tank
"Karna", sources claimed, would be at par with internationally leading tanks like Abrams of the USA, Leopard (Germany), Challenger (UK) and Leclerc (France).
Yes, they claim. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
 

BunBunCake

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yes they claim.
but is it realy?
if yes why did not IA buy them???????
It seems you didn't understand.
They only CLAIM that it's comparable to western tanks. But they haven't PROVED to us it's true. I am not arguing against you.
 

AkhandBharat

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What more proof do you need? It's clear that the top brass of Indian army is sabotaging homegrown products when its been proven time and again to get a 'cut' of the commission from foreign manufacturers. Check out the specs of Arjun vis-a-vis top tanks of the world and you'll know what we're talking about.
 
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Agantrope

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OMG!!! this is a dead news. Army straight away discarded the Karna in 2004. Does this thread still need to be opened??
 

bengalraider

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isn't the Karna just another name for the TANK-EX project ?
 

ppgj

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if, by any miracle, Arjun becomes the MBT of IA - it makes lot of sense - to convert the later versions of T-72's (which are being upgraded) into Tank - EX or Karna so that takes care of logistics, commonality and future upgrades. besides being better than T-72 any day and being home grown, we can upgrade at our will with no arm twisting whatsoever regards ToT or otherwise.
 

Agantrope

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if, by any miracle, Arjun becomes the MBT of IA - it makes lot of sense - to convert the later versions of T-72's (which are being upgraded) into Tank - EX or Karna so that takes care of logistics, commonality and future upgrades. besides being better than T-72 any day and being home grown, we can upgrade at our will with no arm twisting whatsoever regards ToT or otherwise.
lol!!! IA wants to kill the whole arjun project, then how come it can show a glimpse of this one. I was really puzzled.
 

Agantrope

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TANK-EX aka Karna

The Tank Ex is the latest Indian prototype main battle tank. This MBT uses chassis of the T-72M1 (Ajeya) and turret and weapon system of the Arjun. It was developed in 2002 as a private venture. It was intended to provide a solution for upgrading the Indian Army's ageing T-72M1 fleet. The Tank Ex successfully undergone six months of trials, however it was rejected by the Indian Army. At least two prototypes have been built.
This main battle tank uses Kanchan heavy composite armor. It is broadly similar to the British Chobham. Explosive reactive armor blocks can be added for improved protection. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.
The Tank Ex MBT is armed with a 120-mm rifled gun. This gun is loaded manually. This gun is capable of launching Israeli LAHAT anti-tank guided missiles in the same manner as ordinary projectiles. Ammunition is stored in the turret bustle, separated from the crew. Turret bustle is fitted with blow off panels. It is a significant protective feature over the T-72 design with it's carousel-type autoloader. The Tank Ex is fitted with upgraded Arjuns fire control system.
Secondary armament consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun, and 12.7-mm roof-mounted machine gun.
Vehicle is powered by a diesel engine, developing 1 000 hp. The same engine is used on improved Ajeya MBTs. It is worth mentioning that the Tank Ex is significantly lighter than the Arjun. it also has a lower silhouette. This tank is fitted with auxiliary power unit, which powers main systems, when the engine is turned off.

http://www.military-today.com/tanks/tank_ex.htm
 
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AJSINGH

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I see a lot of people in this thread against IA ,i am asking this is that IA is stupid enough to choose inferior tank so as to let Arjun program close down ,really i mean we are manufacturing more than 1500 T-90S now , plus why would IA not choose its own tank rather than buy some Russian tank when own home grown tank is better and cheaper ?
 

san

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I see a lot of people in this thread against IA ,i am asking this is that IA is stupid enough to choose inferior tank so as to let Arjun program close down ,really i mean we are manufacturing more than 1500 T-90S now , plus why would IA not choose its own tank rather than buy some Russian tank when own home grown tank is better and cheaper ?
Because DRDO or Avadi is not going to pay commission to the IA's corrupt generals and their sons and daughters are not able to drive Hundai City, Sonata etc to their colleges. Nobody is stupid, all sees profit in buying from russia except th poor tank crews.
 
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Armand2REP

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if, by any miracle, Arjun becomes the MBT of IA - it makes lot of sense - to convert the later versions of T-72's (which are being upgraded) into Tank - EX or Karna so that takes care of logistics, commonality and future upgrades. besides being better than T-72 any day and being home grown, we can upgrade at our will with no arm twisting whatsoever regards ToT or otherwise.
In the long term picture, the T-90 is really just a replacement for the T-72s. In 15 years time they will no longer be the high-end tank but obsolete. The T-72s will be rusted junk. Hopefully Arjun Mk2 can fill the void of a high end tank by that time to fill the last of the T-72 slots and start replacing outgoing T-90s.
 

SHASH2K2

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I see no harm in trying to upgrade and improve the T 72 tanks. anyways they will be obsolete very soon. Why not try to make it useful by improving it .
 

AJSINGH

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Because DRDO or Avadi is not going to pay commission to the IA's corrupt generals and their sons and daughters are not able to drive Hundai City, Sonata etc to their colleges. Nobody is stupid, all sees profit in buying from russia except th poor tank crews.
any proof ..in way you are insulting IA and its armoued core officers
 

sayareakd

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any proof ..in way you are insulting IA and its armoued core officers
going to substandard T 90S tank when better Arjun home grown tank which fulfill the GSQR is available that too after so much persuasion by DRDO to hold comparative trials for the tanks and finally after danda from GOI, that trial took place, which shows Arjun tank as clear winner, this fact prima facie let us to believe that fact that too much votak is flowing.

if that is not the case then why the hell, IA keeping in insisting Arjun is not up to the standard and they just keep on ordering T 90S tank from Russia in such great numbers ???
 

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