Light tanks for Indian Army

[Ray]

Sir, The objective is to provide fire support for Infantry and counter enemy light tanks and Armoured vehicles, It has dynamic ad dons to resist heavy caliber tank rounds and various anti-tank rounds, Its armament is of same size of a MBT and can fire same rounds,The vehicle will be used along with ICV stationed along LAC, PT-76 is a good tank and its unfortunate it was scrapped, The tank could have been mordanised ..

Where can I see the technical specification.

If it has the same calibre gun as an MBT that is interesting.

Where can I see the add ons that can defeat MBT shells of various types/

Really keen to know about this tank and how it has been kept light so that it can be carted underslung by a helicopter.

 

[Twinblade]

In what operation scenario is a light tank to be used?

It maybe helidroppable, but once on the ground in the plains or deserts, where tanks are used, will it have the capabilities to counter MBTs?

Does it have the capability in armour protection and armament to counter an MBT?

If it is for the mountains or hills, it cannot be used in Ladakh or J&K, because the area East of Ladhak is a Plateau where the Chinese are and in the East. once the mountains are circumvented, one is on the Tibetan Plateau where the Chinese will use MBTs.

If Light tanks were really essential, then why was the PT 76 scrapped? At least they were amphibious and could be used in riverine terrain.

I have not understood the logic. Maybe I have missed something.

The US Strykers are basically for insurgents in Iraq and so that is logical and they have money to squnader.

But India?

Ray sir, Anders with a 120mm gun turret is a light expeditionary tank and not a main battle tank. It's just an up armoured and upgunned IFV. Indian army did at one time envisage the use of light amphibious tanks. DRDO made one such tank by mating BMP-2 with a GIAT turret in the 80s.

Even though the project was abandoned, the concept wasn't. Such vehicles can act as scout vehicles and can be airdropped, or be capable of amphibious landings as well. Although no match for an MBT, they can very well support infantry and provide some serious fire power. A wheeled AFV with a big gun (105/120mm) can patrol large swathes of territory at low costs. With the arrival of newer platforms such as Kestrel and FICV, the concept will make a comeback in Indian context.

Canadians were seriously contemplating retiring their Leopard-1 MBTs and using light tanks exclusively, but in Afghanistan, their IFVs didn't perform as advertised against IEDs, hence they dropped their program and purchased used and upgraded Leopard-2 from Germany. IA too, a few years back, was seriously looking into 300+ light tanks for Himalayas, but decided to deploy T-90 instead, keeping in mind the Chinese armour profile.


The opinion is fairly divided. The supporters cite high mobility, small footprint and low cost of operations especially in amphibious landings and low intensity conflicts (UN Peacekeeping Operations etc), the detractors cite low protection and inability to counter even the most modest MBTs and IEDs. Who knows, maybe with the arrival of mature armour protection systems, electronic IED jamming becoming standard and ground penetration radars to detect mines and IEDs, AFVs can become much more effective.

 

[Ray]

Ray sir, Anders with a 120mm gun turret is a light expeditionary tank and not a main battle tank. It's just an up armoured and upgunned IFV. Indian army did at one time envisage the use of light amphibious tanks. DRDO made one such tank by mating BMP-2 with a GIAT turret in the 80s.

Even though the project was abandoned, the concept wasn't. Such vehicles can act as scout vehicles and can be airdropped, or be capable of amphibious landings as well. Although no match for an MBT, they can very well support infantry and provide some serious fire power. A wheeled AFV with a big gun (105/120mm) can patrol large swathes of territory at low costs. With the arrival of newer platforms such as Kestrel and FICV, the concept will make a comeback in Indian context.

Canadians were seriously contemplating retiring their Leopard-1 MBTs and using light tanks exclusively, but in Afghanistan, their IFVs didn't perform as advertised against IEDs, hence they dropped their program and purchased used and upgraded Leopard-2 from Germany. IA too, a few years back, was seriously looking into 300+ light tanks for Himalayas, but decided to deploy T-90 instead, keeping in mind the Chinese armour profile.


The opinion is fairly divided. The supporters cite high mobility, small footprint and low cost of operations especially in amphibious landings and low intensity conflicts (UN Peacekeeping Operations etc), the detractors cite low protection and inability to counter even the most modest MBTs and IEDs. Who knows, maybe with the arrival of mature armour protection systems, electronic IED jamming becoming standard and ground penetration radars to detect mines and IEDs, AFVs can become much more effective.

I have already stated that a light tank that cannot match an MBT is of no use be it any terrain configurations.

It is like stating that pistol can take on soldier equipped with assault rifles.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sir, As of now there are two tanks suits the need of Indian requirment, Following >>

======================>>

1. Anders Gun mounted System >>

Main armament :120mm cannon
Co-axial : 7.62mm MG
Engine MTU diesel : 720 hp (540 kW)
Suspension : Torsion bar suspension
Speed : 80 km/h
Weight : 35 tons

Source : Anders Prototype Light Tank | Military-Today.com

=============

2. CV-90-120

Main armament :120mm cannon
Co-axial : 7.62mm MG
Engine Scania diesel : 670 hp
Suspension : Torsion bar suspension
Speed : 70 km/h
Weight : 36 tons

Source : CV90120 (CV90120-T / CV90-120) - Light Tank / Tank Destroyer - History, Specs and Pictures - Military Tanks, Vehicles and Artillery

=====================================
=====================================

Sir, Addons are various kind >>

1. Explosive reactive Armour.
2. Non explosive reactive Armour.
3. Hard kill systems.
4. Soft kill systems.


1. Explosive reactive Armour >>

Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) is an add-on armour designed to offer additional protection to tanks against shaped charge warheads of modern antitank guided missiles (ATGMs). An ERA system, which effectively reduces penetration of Milan 2 shaped charge warhead to the extent of 70 per cent.The ERA is a sandwich of explosive and metal plates. The panels of ERA are assembled in metallic containers. When the jet of a shaped charge warhead hits ERA panel, explosive in it detonates. As a result, the plates are accelerated and start moving outward in normal direction. The moving plates and the detonaters render the jet ineffective which loses its penetration capability.Based on RDX, a special type of sheet explosive has also been developed for ERA.This sheet explosive is waterproof. It is not cap sensitive and also quite insensitive to frition, impact and heat. However, it gets initiated by a shaped-charge jet.

========================

2. Non explosive reactive Armour >>

NERA and NxRA operate similarly to explosive reactive armor, but without the explosive liner. Two metal plates sandwich an inert liner, such as rubber.When struck by a shaped charge's metal jet, some of the impact energy is dissipated into the inert liner layer, and the resulting high pressure causes a localized bending or bulging of the plates in the area of the impact. As the plates bulge, the point of jet impact shifts with the plate bulging, increasing the effective thickness of the armor. This is almost the same as the second mechanism that explosive reactive armor uses, but it uses energy from the shaped charge jet rather than from explosives.

Since the inner liner is not explosive itself, the bulging is less energetic than on explosive reactive armor, and thus offers less protection than a similarly-sized ERA. However, NERA and NxRA are lighter and completely safe to handle (and safe for nearby infantry), can theoretically be placed on any part of the vehicle, and can be packaged in multiple spaced-out layers if necessary. A key advantage of this kind of reactive armor is that it cannot be defeated via tandem warhead shaped charges, which employ a small forward warhead to detonate ERA before the main warhead fires.

========================

3. Hard Kill System >>

It senses incoming threats via a fixed radar sensor and an optional passive infrared detector. When a threat is imminent, an explosive projectile interceptor is launched towards it. The interceptor explodes very near the threat, destroying or deflecting and destabilizing it without detonating its warhead. For this, only the blast effect of the explosive is used. The interceptor casing is made of combustible materials so no fragmentation is formed in the explosion, helping minimize collateral damage.

========================

4. Soft Kill System >>

elector-optical jammer that disrupts semiautomatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) antitank guided missiles, laser rangefinders and target designators. seduce and confuse an incoming missile, by using decoys, smoke and electro-optical signals, infrared or laser jamming.

========================

Sir, At present there is no photos of these tanks seen slung under helicopter, But it will be something like this >>

Where can I see the technical specification.

If it has the same calibre gun as an MBT that is interesting.

Where can I see the add ons that can defeat MBT shells of various types/

Really keen to know about this tank and how it has been kept light so that it can be carted underslung by a helicopter.

=========================

Sir, At those altitude specially over eastern sector, Chinese MBTs are not the thread but their Assault Guns and Gun mounted systems along with ICVs ..

It is like stating that pistol can take on soldier equipped with assault rifles.

 

[Ray]

@Kunal Biswas

Excellent post.

Clears a lot of doubts and grey areas.

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

to be frank i don't think inducting anders/other light tanks(equipped with light era/nera) in the indian army is a good idea.first of all when inducted along LAC the kind of balllistic protection it offers may fend of a few rpg rounds by jihadis along LOC but against the latest atgm used by pla army regulars,airborne,special forces it would prove to be a sitting duck.the ideal choice for such a situation is arjun but since our army has a natural love for foreign mall i would say t-90(equipped with heavy era).it is suited to cold climate and may be the only choice for deployment given we have a pathetic state of infrastructure on our side of the LAC(thus eliminating the possibility of arjun deployment even if the dgmf mindset changes).these light tanks are relics of the past and the only possible deployment i see in the indian scenario is by the crpf in the naxal dominated areas.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Its always been my pleasure, Sir ..

I also have some beautiful pictures of BMP working on snow covered mountains over Leh , Will post them soon ..

@Kunal Biswas

Excellent post.

Clears a lot of doubts and grey areas.

 

[Ray]

@Kunal Biswas

As far as tanks and APC in Ladakh, been there, seen all.

Thanks.

 

[bengalraider]

Well guys the Polish Light tank has been unveiled as of now it doesn't look like we are a part of the consortium that developed it though.The PL-01 has been developed via a collaborative effort between OBRUM and Bae.
As of now a driving prototype has been exhibited, the RAM coating and infrared stealth characteristics are also in place as is the 120mm silenced gun.
Firing and off road evaluations will take place between this year and 2018.
Maybe we can join the consortium this year.

 

[Blackwater]

Well guys the Polish Light tank has been unveiled as of now it doesn't look like we are a part of the consortium that developed it though.The PL-01 has been developed via a collaborative effort between OBRUM and Bae.
As of now a driving prototype has been exhibited, the RAM coating and infrared stealth characteristics are also in place as is the 120mm silenced gun.
Firing and off road evaluations will take place between this year and 2018.
Maybe we can join the consortium this year.

Tender kitne ka ha:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

 

[tharun]

We need light tanks for high altitude areas and long range artillery,anti-tank missile batteries like spike long range...

 

[Bahamut]

Well the claim that it can cheat IR sensor is bullshit ,modern IR sensor are able to differentiate up to 0.001 degree and the engine and even the heat on the track of the tank will give it away.Light tank lack the fire power but have mobility ,it better to have light SPG and car with missile carrier or heavy cannon then these light tank.

 

[garg_bharat]

This tank does not seem to have anything great or novel. Tank shell is fired using optics, so this tank is not saved from enemy tank shell or anti-tank gun or anti-tank rocket. It is also not saved from anti-tank missiles. Maybe it is harder to target from aircraft (which uses radar to locate the tank), but that is only a small consolation.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

This is common and their is no place for this kind of hi tech system to operate unless everything is under a thick Armour and powered by a super charged turbo engine and runs like a Ferrari ..

This tank does not seem to have anything great or novel. Tank shell is fired using optics, so this tank is not saved from enemy tank shell or anti-tank gun or anti-tank rocket. It is also not saved from anti-tank missiles. Maybe it is harder to target from aircraft (which uses radar to locate the tank), but that is only a small consolation.

 

[garg_bharat]

I think Russia has decent heat seeking tech. The new MBRL cargo warheads can discreetly target vehicles.
Any top attack on a tank will destroy its optics and exposed mechanical parts. The tank will be inoperable even if it is not destroyed.

My point is if this tank was so revolutionary, Americans or Europeans would have produced it already.

I have low confidence in Polish besides producing novel methods of propaganda. They are the worst of Slavs.

 

[bengalraider]

My point is if this tank was so revolutionary, Americans or Europeans would have produced it already.

I have low confidence in Polish besides producing novel methods of propaganda. They are the worst of Slavs.

This is not just polish, BAe is involved. That makes it a Brit+ Yank + Polish product.
As for your low confidence in Polish production where do you think we bought our WZT series armored recovery vehicles from.

 

[garg_bharat]

Recovery vehicle is based on T-72.
BAe involvement does not mean it becomes invincible.

How may tanks of this type will be bought by Brits? or Yanks?

 

[Aschenbecher]

This polish tank is nothing more than a gimmick.

Modern TIS sights and experienced gunner could easily id this from hot tracks. And trust me all vehicles have hot moving parts , specially tracks.

Having experience with both Leo2 and M1A2 mbt. I can tell you that looking thru gunners TIS sight , we see a lot of hot surfaces and over time you get enough experience to id objects which are partly visible. This can include tracks, humans, animals, even a recently fired round is visible after it has come to stop on the ground.

and a light tank like this with advanced TIS defeating plates does not look like it has much armor.

In a direct engagement with modern mbts , even if it gets the first shot off. it will quickly be id'ed and destroyed.

 

[AbRaj]

kunal some one should work on this in kashmir where space is small it wont be much use to have big jeep better to have small vehicle.

:biggrin2:

..............

 

[aditya g]

DRDO light tank.

Its a shame that so many of DRDO products remain as prototypes never to see even token service.