THE ACTUAL RFI FROM http://www.indianarmy.nic.in/
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR LIGHT TANKS WHEELED AND
TRACKED FOR INDIAN ARMY
1. The Indian Army is in the process of acquiring light tanks for use in semi
mountainous and mountainous regions in the North and North East, developed and
semi developed terrain in the Western borders and in the island territories.
2. The requirement is of approximately 200 light tanks (wheeled) and
approximately 100 light tanks (tracked). The information may please be provided in
detail in reply to the Request for Information:-
(a) Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) status of the equipment.
(b) Names of the firms, if any, that have been authorised by the OEM to
deal with the Indian MoD.
(c) Level of technology that the firm would be willing to transfer to a firm
that will be nominated by Indian MoD.
(d) Any other relevant inputs.
3. Two questionnaires giving specific inputs for the light tank wheeled and
tracked are given in Appendix A and B respectively. A Performa to be filled by the
vendors is attached as Appendix C.
4. The vendors are requested to respond to the RFI by 30 October at the
address given below:-
Director General of Weapons and Equipment (WE-8/9),
General Staff Branch,
Room No 208G, South Block,
IHQ of MoD (Army)
DHQ PO, New Delhi -110011
5. Inputs can be provided by Fax on No 0091-11-23793274 and by email ID:
[email protected].
Appendix A
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR LIGHT TANK (WHEELED) FOR INDIAN ARMY
Roles and Tasks
Q1. Is the Light tank capable of undertaking battlefield reconnaissance and
surveillance in the desert, semi-developed and developed terrain?
Q2. Is the light tank capable of being deployed as part of a mechanized force in
High Altitude Area (above 3000 m) as also in mountainous / semi mountainous
terrain?
Operational and Technical Design Features
Q3. Does the light tank enjoy a high level of protection against anti-tank and antipersonnel
mines?
Q4. Does the light tank have active / tuneable (add on) armour protection?
Q5. Is the light tank capable of deployment in peacekeeping operations as well as
high intensity conflicts with suitable variants to meet different roles?
Q6. Does the light tank have multi-role weapon systems, to include gun and
missile system, surveillance and communication capability, high manoeuvrability and
amphibious capability as the standard design features?
Q7. Does the light tank have the capability to operate in urban environment?
Q8. Is the design of light tank based on modular structure to give more flexibility
for multipurpose operation?
Essential Physical And Operational Characteristics
Q9. Does the light tank have a low silhouette?
Q10. Does the design of the light tank incorporate stealth technology and ensure
low thermal, acoustic, magnetic and IR signals and are all the systems so designed
and located so as to enhance its survivability on the future battlefield?
Q11. Is the light tank amphibious without using any floatation aids?
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Q12. Is the light tank capable of all weather day and night operation and are the
tank systems fully integrated to achieve the same?
Q13. What is the maximum weight of the tank? If the weight of the tank is more
than 22 Tons, is the tank capable of undertaking the roles and tasks and meeting the
design parameters and characteristics as highlighted above?
Q14. What is the in-service life of the light tank?
Essential Parameters
Q15. What is the power to weight ratio of the light tank? Does the light tank have
good acceleration, agility and mobility over varied type of terrain?
Q16. Does the light tank have individual self recovery capability on land and for
exiting from water obstacle?
Q17. Does the light tank have a safe free board and adequate amphibious
capability for crossing of water obstacles like unlined canals, rivers and stretches of
sea?
Q18. Does the light tank incorporate low velocity main gun? What is the calibre of
the gun?
Q19. Is the light tank capable of firing an ATGM/third generation ATGM having lock
on before launch facility (utilizing HEAT as well as thermo baric war heads)?
Q20. Does the light tank incorporate cannon, MGs, digital fully integrated fire
control system with state of the art sensors and all weather surveillance devices?
Q21. Is the light tank capable of:-
(a) Engaging MBTs at ranges exceeding the MBTs direct firing capabilities
with an ATGM in all weather and light conditions?
(b) Destroying bunkers and soft skin vehicles at ranges up to 3000m firing
weapon / ATGM having thermo basic warheads?
(c) Deterrence by fire against attack helicopters and low flying fixed wing
aircrafts?
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Q22. Does the light tank have adequate protection to withstand the increased
lethality of the battlefield?
Q23. Does the light tank have active / reactive armour and Active Protection
System?
Q24. Does the light tank incorporate state of the art composite armour to reduce
weight while enhancing protection? Is the distribution of armour such that it ensures
optimum utilization of protection levels?
Q25. How many crew members does the light tank have?
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Automotive
Q26. What is the configuration of the light tank, ie, 8 x 8 or 6 x 6 or 4 x 4 (preferably
8 x 8)?
Q27. What is the maximum weight of the tank (preferably should not exceed 22
Tons)?
Q28. What is the max height of the tank including vision devices (preferably should
not exceed 2.8 meters)?
Q29. What is the maximum length of the tank (preferably should not exceed 7.8
metres)?
Q30. What is the maximum width of the light tank? What is the outer width of the
tank at the tyres and width (space) between the inner edges of the two tyres?
Q31. What is the ground clearance of the light tank?
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Q32. Is the light tank powered with a robust high performance diesel engine? What
is the power rating of the engine?
Q33. What is the life of the tank engine in terms of hours?
Q34. What is the power to weight ration of the tank?
Q35. What is the maximum on road speed of the light tank?
Q36. What is the maximum cross country speed of the tank?
Q37. What is the speed afloat in terms of knots?
Q38. What is the afloat endurance of the light tank in terms of hours?
Q39. What is the obstacle crossing capability of the light tank:-
(a) Maximum gradient (entry)?
(b) Maximum gradient (exit)?
(c) Maximum side slope?
(d) Maximum vertical step?
(e) Maximum trench crossing width?
Q40. What is the cruising range of the tank without external fuel tanks on road and
cross country?
Q41. Does the light tank incorporate automatic transmission and all wheel drive
along with capability for 8 x 6 or 8 x 4 drive? Is there provision of locking inter axle
and inter wheel differentials?
Q42. In the steering power assisted? Does it also have a back up manual steering,
should the power assisted steering fail?
Q43. Is there a Central type Inflation System (CTIS) incorporated?
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Q44. What is the capability of the tank to run on flat tyres? For what distance?
Q45. What is the type of suspension which has been incorporated in the light tank?
Q46. What is the turning circle radius / turning circle diameter of the tank?
Q47. What is the braking system of the tank and does it have following features :-
(a) Efficient brake system with disc type or state of the art system on each
of the eight wheels?
(b) Can it hold the light tank on 30 degree gradient?
(c) Does the brake system function even if engine is switched off?
(d) Is the parting brake system capable of holding the light tank on a slope
of 30 degree?
Q48. Does the light tank incorporate an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to facilitate
silent watch requirement of FCS, active protection system, environmental control
and other electrical / electronic devices when main engine is switched off? If yes,
what are the specifications of the APU?
Q49. Does the light tank has facility for cold starting? Is there a facility of Preheater
or equivalent available to facilitate the starting at high altitude and low temperatures?
Armament
Q50. Is the main gun rifled or smooth bore?
Q51. What ammunition is the main gun capable of firing?
Q52. What is the maximum effective range for aimed fire for the following
ammunition:-
(a) APFSDS
(b) Missile.
(c) HEAT
(d) HE Fragmentation.
Q53. What is the penetration of the APFSDS projectile in Rolled Homogenous
Armour (RHA) at 2000 m?
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Q54. What is the First Round Hit Probability (FRHP) with APFSDS ammunition on
a 1 mil target by day and night when:-
(a) Both, the tank and the target are stationary?
(b) When the tank is moving at 25 kmph and the target is stationary.
Q55. Is the light tank provided with an automatic loading system which can
facilitate a high rate of fire of 8-10 rounds per minute? If so, what type is it (bustle /
carousel) and how many rounds are there in the autoloader bin as ready rounds?
Q56. How much main gun ammunition (including missiles) does the light tank carry/
stow?
Q57. What is the barrel life of the main gun in terms of Equivalent Full Charge
(EFC)?
Q58. ATGM.
(a) Does the tank fire a state of the art fire and forget missile?
(b) Is it cannon launched and integrated with the auto loader system?
(c) Does it have a tandem warhead and what is its penetration to defeat a
combination of ERA panels and RHA ?
(d) What is the minimum and maximum range of the missile and its
guidance system?
(e) What is the FRHP of the missile by day and night on a 1 mil target with
(i) Both tank and target stationary?
(ii) The tank is stationary and the target is moving at 25 kmph?
Q59. Secondary Armament.
(a) MMG. What is the calibre of the secondary coaxially mounted
MMG? What is its range and what ammunition can it fire? How much
ammunition does it stow?
(b) AAMG.
(i) What is the calibre of the AAMG? What is its range and what
ammunition can it?
(ii) Is it capable of being remotely operated by the tank commander
while closed down?
(iii) Is it stabilised in the vertical and the horizontal planes?
(iv) How much ammunition does it stow?
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(c) Grenade Dischargers.
(i) How many tubes of grenade dischargers are there on the light
tank?
(ii) What types of ammunition does it fire (preferably aerosol type
smoke tube launched also firing HE fragmentation anti personal
grenades and anti thermal smoke)?
(iii) What is the time that the smoke is effective what is the size of
the smoke screen and at what distance is it formed?
(iv) What is the range of the anti personal grenades? What is each
grenade’s killing area?
Q60. Gun Control Equipment (GCE). Is the GCE solid state, brushless all electric
drive? Is it designed for the following:-
(a) Encompass firing all weapon system of the light tank including missile
system.
(b) Capability of firing on the move at the maximum utilizable crosscountry
speed.
(c) Adequate traversing speed to cater for a 360 degree traverse in 14
second or less.
(d) Capability for fine laying with power traverse and elevation controls
while on the move and stationary.
(e) Override facilities for the tank commander for traverse and elevation
when operating on power control.
(f) What is the mean error of stabilisation of weapon systems at vehicle
speed of 25 to 35 kmph (preferably not be more than 1 mil in elevation and/or
azimuth).
(g) Provision of manual backup.
Q61. Fire Control System (FCS). Does the computerised FCS allow the
gunner and commander to lay and fire the weapon systems while the light tank is
stationary or moving under day and night conditions? Does it comprise of all the
relevant sensors including automatic target tracker and multichannel sighting system
for the ATGM?
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Q62. Vision / Surveillance Devices.
(a) Driver Sight.
(i) What is the field of view of the day periscopes?
(ii) What is the night vision device for the driver? What is its range?
(b) Gunner Sight.
(i) Is the gunner sight integrated with the FCS and capable of firing
all weapons during move by day and night?
(ii) Does it have day periscopes for panoramic view?
(iii) Does it have a third generation stabilised integrated TI sight or
state of the art TI? What are the detection, recognition and
identification ranges for the TI sight?
(iv) Does it have provision for recording and playback of battle field
view? Up to how long and with how much memory?
(c) Commander Sight.
(i) Does it have periscopes for 360-degree field of view during day?
(ii) Does it have a third generation stabilised panoramic day cum TI
sight or state of the art night sight with ranges similar to gunner’s
sight?
(iii) Does it have independent tracking and firing through gunner
over ride facility.
(iv) Does it have automatic sector scanning and automatic target
cueing for gunner’s sight without need for verbal communication?
(v) Does it have facility of gunner sight picture to be viewed by
commander?
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(d) Automatic Target Tracker.
(i) Does it have a computer based system to track the target
automatically without man-in-the-loop / without human assistance?
(ii) Does it display day and night video image as viewed by the
sight.
(iii) Does it maintain line of sight on target.
(e) Laser Range Finder. Does it have Laser Range Finder with eye
safe Laser? What is its maximum and minimum range?
Protection
Q63. Armour Protection.
(a) What is the level of armour protection provided against 25mm AP
cannon and against hand held anti tank weapons in the frontal arc?
(b) What is the level of protection against 7.62mm AP from all directions?
(c) What is the level of protection against medium artillery splinters?
(d) Does the hull bottom should provide protection against anti-personnel
mines including fragmentation type? Are there mine counter measures
incorporated to initiate influence mines electronically?
(e) Is the hull thickness capable of mounting strap on ERA panels and
strap on/bolt on appliqué armour to increase protection in selected area?
(f) Are spall liners and roof fragmentation protector provided?
(g) What is the top attack protection against bomblets and shrapnel?
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Q64. Defensive Aid Suite (DAS).
(a) Is the light tank provided with a defensive aid suit to protect against all
Laser/Thermal/Radar guided munitions?
(b) Does the defensive aid suit have a hard kill & soft kill system with all
round sensor & surveillance capability?
(c) Is the light tank provided with an Active Protection System that would
automatically detect, prioritise, counter and intercept incoming missiles, RPGs
and chemical energy projectiles directed towards the light tank including top
attack ammunition and homing artillery?
Q65. Passive Protection.
(a) Are the acoustic, visual, thermal, magnetic, radar and infrared
signatures of the light tank minimised to avoid detection from visual and
electronic surveillance devices?
(b) Is the light tank painted with anti laser and anti thermal paints.
Q66. NBC Protection.
(a) Is the crew and inner equipment of the light tank protected against the
effects of NBC contamination and EMP?
(b) Is each light tank equipped with portable de-contamination dispensers?
(c) Is the automatic NBC detection apparatus provided with capability to
seal the light tank and operate the NBC protection system to include chemical
agent and bacteriological sensors?
Q67. Instant Fire Detection and Suppression System (IFDSS).
(a) Does the light tank incorporate a modern IFDSS?
(b) What is the response time of the IFDSS?
(c) What is the time in which it extinguishes fire in the crew compartment
and in the engine compartment?
(d) What gas is used in the fire extinguishers (preferably non ozone layer
depleting gas)?
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Q68. Ammunition Storage. Is the ammunition stored in containerised
compartments with blow out panels to ensure protection to crew from accidental
fire/explosion?
Miscellaneous
Q69. Radio Communication. What is the communications equipment fitted on
the light tank? Is external telephone facility provided to communicate with crew from
outside? Are the gunner and driver able to listen to the communication being carried
out by the commander on the radio set?
Q70. Navigation System. Does the light tank have the capability to
incorporate INS and satellite based navigation system with alternate mode of
navigation which provides accuracy of up to 1% of distance travelled?
Q71. Ergonomics and Crew Comfort. Does the ergonomics of the light
tank cater to facilitate 72 hours continuous operations by crew under operational
conditions? Are the following additional features incorporated: -
(a) Height adjustable, cushioned seats with shock dampeners, headrest
and seat belts.
(b) Suitable storage for rations and electrical arrangements for food
warming and water heating for crew.
(c) First aid kit.
(d) Cooling arrangements for 50 litres of water.
(e) Over hung suspended seats.
(f) A minimum of 1.1 cubic meters space per crew member.
Q72. Environmental Control Unit / Air Conditioner and APU.
(a) Is the light tank provided with an air conditioner for critical equipment
and crew? Are AC ducts provided to keep crew members and critical
equipment at the requisite temperatures?
(b) Is the AC capable operating in a temperature range of up to + 55ºC?
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(c) Is the AC capable of maintaining the temperature in the crew
compartment of the tank to 28±5ºC when working in an ambient temperature
of +45ºC in crew closed down mode?
(d) Is the AC housed inside the tank and does it draw power from the
engine/APU?
(e) Is APU provided to operate the environmental control and various
electrical and electronic systems including gun control sub systems when the
engine is not running.
(f) Does the light tank have a facility to provide inside temperature of
28±5ºC even if the outside temperatures are low? Does the environmental
control incorporate a heater also?
Q73. Battle Field Management System (BMS). Does the light tank have
provision to adapt the Network Centric Battle Field Management System being
developed for the Army?
Q74. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF). Does the light tank have provision to
adapt state of the art IFF?
Q75. Stowage Facility. Does the stowage facility provided in the light tank cater
for the following: -
(a) Personal weapons of crew.
(b) Personal equipment of crew.
(c) Camouflage net.
(d) Tarpaulin/shelter.
(e) Other tools and accessories.
(f) 100 litres of water under armour and 300 litres of water outside.
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Operation and Maintenance
Q76. Bore Sighting. Is a bore sight testing equipment provided which is easy
and simple to handle?
Q77. Built in Test Equipment (BITE) and Hardware Test Facility. Is it
possible to carry out complete functional checks of the complete equipment without
the aid of any external test equipment and with the assistance of suitable indication
devices for display of failure of the hardware of each sub assembly?
Q78. Design. Are the systems designs modular to the extent possible, with
easy accessibility to ensure quick replacement of faulty modules/sub assemblies?
Are all marking on the sight including graticules in English language? Is the design
based on modular chassis to allow configuration from tracked to wheeled chassis for
theatre specific requirement?
Q79. In Situ Repair. Is the procedure for replacement of assemblies/ modules
simple and does it require minimum amount of re-alignment.
Q80. Field/Component Repair. Are all facilities in terms of spares and
SMTs/STEs required for carrying out component level repairs to the complete
system provided in matching time fame along with the main equipment?
Q81. Specifications. Do all electronic components conform to ‘Mil GRADE’
specifications?
Appendix B
