Light tanks for Indian Army

[WolfPack86]

Russia offers India winter clothing and Sprut light weight tanks with a T-90 barrel for Ladakh stand-off

Although Russia wants India and China to bilaterally resolve the Ladakh military stand-off, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintain a close personal relationship that is the bedrock of bilateral Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. On Wednesday, PM Modi called up President Putin to wish him 68th birthday, just as the latter phoned PM Modi to wish him on his 70th birthday on September 17. In a tweet, PM Modi later said he appreciated Putin’s “immense personal contribution” to strengthening the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two counries. Among others who congratulated President Putin on his birthday were leaders of Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Moldova, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. It is interesting to note that while Russia and China have an economic and security relationship, the personal touch between President Putin and President Xi Jinping has been missing from both sides. According to diplomats based in Moscow and New Delhi, while Russia has offered India winter clothing and Sprut light weight tanks with a T-90 barrel for Ladakh stand-off, there are reports that Moscow has delayed the supply of the second S-400 surface to air missile system ostensibly on account of the coronavirus pandemic. China has contracted to buy four S-400 systems from Russia, the first one has already been deployed near Nyingchi across Arunachal Pradesh. India has a deal to buy 5 S-400 systems from Russia, deliveries of which are likely to begin at the end of next year. The order of additional Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 fighters to replenish the reserve are already on schedule.

Russia offers India winter clothing and Sprut light weight tanks with a T-90 barrel for Ladakh stand-off – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

 

[WolfPack86]

India In Talks To Buy Two Dozen Light Tanks From Russia For Deployment In Ladakh Against China; Army May Use Emergency Financial Powers
NEW DELHI: India is in advanced talks with Russia to acquire a newly developed light tank that could be useful in high altitude areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Talks to buy the Sprut SDM1 light tanks were initiated late in July under a fast-track, government-to-government process, sources told ET.

The need for such tanks was felt after increased Indian deployments at the LAC following border hostilities with China, which has also fielded a range of equipment, including its Type 15 light tanks.

The new tanks are under trial in Russia, but sources said they could be inducted in India as well for a series of rigorous field tests before the deal is finalised.

India could acquire almost two dozen such tanks in the first tranche. The procurement is likely to cost less than ₹500 crore, which falls within the emergency financial powers given to service chiefs after the Galwan clash. The expenditure is expected to be within the emergency financial powers given to the Army following the clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan valley in June.

ET was the first to report in July that the government had given approvals for emergency procurement of lightweight tanks for deployment in high-altitude conditions, amid the ongoing border standoff with China. Final discussions on the contract are expected to conclude this year.

The Sprut SDM1 light tank, transportable by air, has commonalities with the T72 and T90s operated by India and would require minimal crew training to become operational. It is armed with a 125 mm gun, similar to the one on the T90, and fires all types of ammunition with the T72/90 fleet available with the Army.

India has a robust tank force, but all of them are heavy main battle tanks — T72s, T90s and the indigenously developed Arjun — considered more suitable for operations in the plains. While these tanks have been sent to the Himalayan border as well, navigating them on difficult border terrain has been an issue.

The Sprut SDM1 is designed to be airdropped from an aircraft with its crew of three sitting inside the tank. India has operated light tanks in the past and it has come in handy during the 1947-48 Kashmir operations as well as the 1962 war with China, but these have been slowly phased out.

India In Talks To Buy Two Dozen Light Tanks From Russia For Deployment In Ladakh Against China; Army May Use Emergency Financial Powers

NEW DELHI: India is in advanced talks with Russia to acquire a newly developed light tank that could be useful in high altitude areas like ...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Defence Secretary to Review Weaponry Order in Russia in the Event of a Clash with China
Amid India's longest-ever border standoff with China, the nation's military is rushing to provide winter gears and weaponry to thousands of troops in the high-altitude region Ladakh amid freezing conditions. India has expedited several defence purchases, including that of air defence missile systems and 33 fighter jets from Russia.

As India continues to acquire winter gear amid boiling tensions with China, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar will visit Moscow on Monday to ensure the replacement of weaponry and discuss the progress of a new project.

The visit is to review weapon purchase orders and discuss the manufacture of AK-203 assault rifles in India, in addition to other reasons, sources informed Times Now.


The visit also comes ahead of a scheduled visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to India for the annual bilateral summit between the two countries.

The two countries have marked several high-level visits following India's border stand-off with China, which began this spring, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Sigh visiting Moscow twice and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar visiting to attend a Shaghai Co-operation Organisation meeting.

During the visit to Moscow in June, Rajnath Singh urged the Russian side to expedite the delivery of air defence missile systems and spare parts for the military equipment. Sources in New Delhi confirmed that the two countries are also in the advance stage of negotiations for India to acquire Russian made Sprut light tanks at cost of around $68 million. India also hopes to receive a short range air defence missile system at an early date.

Russia continues to remain one of India's largest defence equipment suppliers despite the threat of sanctions from the US. The Indian defence ministry recently approved the purchase of 21 MiG-29 planes and a dozen Su-30 jets from Russia, worth over $2.43 billion.

The India-China tensions have yielded one of the biggest military logistics exercises in years, entailing a build-up of thousands of troops, vast quantities of ammunition, winter supplies and food in sub-zero temperature Ladakh, where tensions escalated in June following hand-to-hand combat between the armies.

Defencenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Defence Secretary To Review Weaponry Order In Russia In The Event of A Clash with China
As India continues to acquire winter gear amid boiling tensions with China, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar will visit Moscow on Monday to ensure the replacement of weaponry and discuss the progress of a new project

The visit is to review weapon purchase orders and discuss the manufacture of AK-203 assault rifles in India, in addition to other reasons, sources informed.

The visit also comes ahead of a scheduled visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to India for the annual bilateral summit between the two countries.

The two countries have marked several high-level visits following India's border stand-off with China, which began this spring, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Sigh visiting Moscow twice and external affairs minister S Jaishankar visiting to attend a Shaghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) meeting.

During the visit to Moscow in June, Rajnath Singh urged the Russian side to expedite the delivery of air defence missile systems and spare parts for the military equipment. Sources in New Delhi confirmed that the two countries are also in the advance stage of negotiations for India to acquire Russian made Sprut light tanks at cost of around $68 million. India also hopes to receive a short range air defence missile system at an early date.

Russia continues to remain one of India's largest defence equipment suppliers despite the threat of sanctions from the US. The Indian defence ministry recently approved the purchase of 21 MiG-29 planes and a dozen Sukhoi Su-30 jets from Russia, worth over $2.43 billion.

The India-China tensions have yielded one of the biggest military logistics exercises in years, entailing a build-up of thousands of troops, vast quantities of ammunition, winter supplies and food in sub-zero temperature Ladakh, where tensions escalated in June following hand-to-hand combat between the armies.

Indian Defence Secretary To Review Weaponry Order In Russia In The Event of A Clash with China

As India continues to acquire winter gear amid boiling tensions with China, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar will visit Moscow on Monday to ensu...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Why India Desperately Needs The Russian ‘Aquatic Tank Killer’ – The Sprut Against China?

With the increasing tensions at the India-China border at Ladakh, the deployment of VT-4 light tanks by the PLA has taken everyone’s attention, and eyes are now up to the Indian Army- that it might just be the time to have one of theirs. While the DRDO has been given a green light to move forward with their own version of the light tank, the Indian Army would also lookup for foreign vendors to fill this void – and one of the primary candidates is the Russian ‘Sprut-SD’ light tank. Armed with a 125mm gun, this ‘light tank’ is capable of destroying enemy heavy armor, having the firepower commonality with the T-72, T-90, and the newest T-14 Armata tanks. This also translates to be a logistical boon – as the same munitions would be used by these tanks. It is an amphibious tank-destroyer, much like its western counterpart Stryker Mobile Gun System, but having a bigger gun. Sprut is currently in service with the Russian airborne units. It’s a legacy to the wide array of Soviet-era mechanized formations which include some of the most used ICVs like the BMP and BTR family. Its close relative, the BMP-3, has a 100mm cannon. The vehicle weighs around 18 tonnes, which is about half as the Chinese counterpart, the VT-5, which sports a 105mm gun. Being lighter and carrying more firepower, the Sprut could enjoy a considerable advantage in the field, working in tandem with the Indian Army’s highly upgraded T-72 “Combat Improved Ajeya” tanks as well as the T-90s. All of these three tanks sport the same munitions as mentioned above, and the higher protection cover provided just like the heavier main battle tanks. This would be reminiscent of the tactics developed during the World War 2 when specific tank destroyer variants (and Anti-Tank Artillery) would move in formations along with the main armour, and provide a credible firepower addition that would render the enemy’s mechanized formations vulnerable. Considering the VT-5’s lighter armour and its lesser firepower, Sprut might have an edge on the battlefield. One of the major advantages of the Ruskie light tank is its amphibious capability, a feature that can be seen with most of the Russian infantry combat vehicles. This gives the combat engineers a sigh of relief, as these amphibious vehicles are unstoppable by water-obstructions like Rivers or other smaller water channels. Working with the main armor, these vehicles could either continue the advance or secure a bridgehead, or the area at the opposite bank, while giving the engineers a safe and secure time to deal with bridge-laying operations. The Sprut gun is also equipped with an autoloader, which ensures the high rate of fire of 6−8 rounds per minute with both conventional projectiles and rounds with guided missiles. In addition, the fire control system features stabilization of the elevation and azimuth and also includes a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer that provides ever-changing data about the target. The two-plane stabilization of the commander’s sight is aligned with the laser sight for aiming the 125 mm shells onto the laser rangefinder. The tank could be a potent contender for the Indian Army’s light tank requirements and provides adequate firepower and mobility along with the much-needed interoperability with its related armored vehicles like the T-90 and T-72 which form the backbone of the country’s armored formations.

Why India Desperately Needs The Russian ‘Aquatic Tank Killer’ – The Sprut Against China?

With the increasing tensions at the India-China border at Ladakh, the deployment of VT-4 light tanks by the PLA has taken everyone’s attention, and eyes are now up to the Indian Army- that it might just be the time to have one of theirs. While the DRDO has been given a green light to move...

www.defencenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Exclusive: India discussing the purchase of Sprut Light tanks from Russia
Due to the ongoing India China border standoff in Ladakh, both nations have deployed their tanks on the border. During this standoff, the Chinese Army has deployed Type 15 Light tank on the border and presently Indian Army has no comparable system to the threat of the Chinese light tank. That is why the Indian Army has deployed T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks on the border. In this Guarding Exclusive, we will tell you about the capabilities of the Chinese Type 15 Light Tank and Russian Sprut-SDM1 Light Tank in which the Indian Army is much interested.

Tanks are considered as the most dangerous weapon of any army and a good tank can be key to victory in any war. A normal tank like T-72 and T-90 tank which weighs around 45-48 tons cannot move on weak mountainous roads and therefore their movement is much restricted. Due to this reason, light tanks whose weight is lesser than normal tanks are more successful in mountainous regions.

Even during the 1962 Sino-India War, India had French AMX 13 light tanks that were airlifted to LAC by AN-12 planes of the Indian Air Force. Indian Army replaced AMX 13 tanks with Russian PT 76 which was an amphibious light tank. In 1971 India Pakistan war, Russian PT 76 light tanks proved to be very effective. After the retirement of PT-76 light tank, presently Indian Army does not have any light tank in service.


In past, at several times, DRDO tried to develop a Light tank, however, to date DRDO has been unable to develop an effective light tank. In the 1990s, DRDO tried developing a light tank based upon BMP-2 Sharath which is manufactured in India. In this DRDO Light Tank concept, a French GIAT TS-90 turret with 105 mm gun was fitted on the BMP II body. However, this project was closed by 1998.

Even after this, the Indian Army continued to search for light tanks and in 2009, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Light tanks which stated a requirement of 200 wheeled and 100 tracked light tanks. In this tender, Indian Army specified that the weight of the light tank should be less than 22 tons and it should be able to operate in mountain regions higher than 3000 meters or 12000 feet just like Ladakh. However, even this tender could not materialize in a purchase.


In 2020, during Ladakh’s standoff when the Chinese Army deployed Type 15 Light tank on LAC, the Indian Army felt the need of light tanks. Type 15 Light Tank which is also called ZTQ-15 is a third-generation tank of the Chinese Army. Type 15 tank has been specially developed for high mountainous regions like Tibet because of the heavy tanks of the Chinese Army like Type 96 tank that weighs 43 tons and Type 99 tank which weighs approx. 58 tons were unable to operate in the high mountains of Tibet.

The weight of Type 15 Light Tank is around 36 tons and it has a 1000 horsepower engine that enables it to move into any mountainous region. Type 15 Light Tank has a 105 mm rifled gun which fires a new type of APFSDS round made of tungsten alloy. According to the Chinese Army, this round can destroy most tanks at a range of 2 kilometers. Due to the lightweight of Type 15 tanks, the Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese Air Force can travel with two Type -15 Light tanks to 7,800 kilometers. Due to this reason, in no time, Type 15 Light tanks can be inducted into the Tibet area.


Presently, in answer to Chinese Type 15 Light tanks, India has deployed T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks on LAC. I would like to tell you that the T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks of the Indian Army are far more powerful than Chinese Type 15 light tanks because Indian tanks have 125 mm smoothbore gun which is superior to 105 mm gun used in Chinese Type 15 Light Tank. Not only this, experts believe that the protection of Indian T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks with 45-48 Tons weight is far better than the protection of Chinese Type 15 light tank with 36 tons weight, and in any mountainous plains like Depsang plains Indian tanks will easily destroy light tanks of Chinese Army.


However, there are some areas in Ladakh where T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks of the Indian Army cannot reach and for those places Indian Army is discussing the procurement of Sprut Light Tank from Russia on a fast-track basis.

The full name of Sprut Light Tank is 2S25M Sprut-SDM1 and it is a new light tank of Russia. For making Sprut Light tank, Russia merged the chassis BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle with a fire control system and sights of T-90 MS main battle tank. The weight of Sprut light tank is just 18 tons and it has been fitted with 500 horsepower UTD-29 multi-fuel diesel engines. Due to its low weight and powerful engine Sprut light tank can reach any area of Ladakh.

Just like T-72 and T-90 tanks, Sprut Light Tank has been fitted with a fully stabilized 125 mm smoothbore which can fire any ammunition used by Indian tanks. The firing range of this gun is 2 to 2.5 kilometers and it is more powerful than 105 mm gun used by Type 15 light tank. Besides this, Sprut Light Tank can fire laser-guided Invar-M anti-tank missiles from its barrel. Invar-M missile with its 5-kilometer range is considered amongst the most dangerous anti-tank missiles of the world because it can shoot down low flying enemy helicopters as well as can easily destroy any Chinese heavy tank like Type 96 and Type 99 Main battle tanks. It is due to Invar-M missile Sprut Light Tank will be able to face any tank of the Chinese army. Besides 125 mm smoothbore gun, this light tank has two 7.62 mm machine guns, and one machine gun out of these two is mounted on remote-controlled weapon stations which can be used to target enemy soldiers.

After these impressive capabilities of this tank there is one glaring shortcoming in this tank. Just to keep the weight of this light tank on the lower side of the scale, it has been developed with weak armour protection as Sprut tank can only stop 12.7 mm machine gun bullets from the front and only 7.62mm light machine gun bullets from sides which is considerably lesser than other tanks. However, just like the T-90 tank, for improving armour protection, Sprut Light Tank can also be fitted with Explosive reactive armour (ERA) panels.

Finally, two advantages that make this light tank a unique tank in the world. Firstly, this light tank is the only tank in the world that can be airdropped, and surprisingly, during the airdrop troops can be sitting inside the tank which means that as soon as sprut light tank lands on the ground it can immediately start destroying enemy tanks. Secondly, this light tank is a fully amphibious tank that can float on the water surface. Sprut light tank has two waterjets due to which it can swim at speed of 7 kilometer per hour.
Sprut tank has three crew members which include commander, gunner, and driver. A single IL-76 transport aircraft of the Indian Air force can para drop two Sprut light tanks with their crew.


If the Indian Army finalizes Sprut light tank deal then we expect that it will be fitted with additional armour protection, French Catherine thermal imager, secure Israeli radios, and Saab LEDS -150 active self-protection system which will make the Sprut tank even more powerful. Besides this, we also want that DRDO and OFB should jointly work on Light Tank project at a faster pace so that we can reduce dependence upon imported tanks.

Team Guarding India is confident that the Indian Army Sprut light tank will prove to be a very effective weapon in Ladakh and it will be a formidable match to Chinese Type 15 light tanks. Not only this, in the future, if the Indian Army conducts any large-scale operations inside Tibet then Sprut light tank will surely be airdropped to support India’s Special Frontier Force and Para Commandos.

Exclusive: India discussing the purchase of Sprut Light tanks from Russia

Indian Army is Very Impressed with Russian Sprut Light Tank and Planning to purchase it amid India China Border Standoff.

guardingindia.com

 

[WolfPack86]

Sprut SDM1 completes latest trials and will enter production, Russian Airborne troops & I think their marines will use them. In case you don't know, they to develop a new light tank with 2A46-M5 gun on BMD-4M chasis. So current product possibly will see limited production.

 

[Ayushraj]

Exclusive: India discussing the purchase of Sprut Light tanks from Russia
Due to the ongoing India China border standoff in Ladakh, both nations have deployed their tanks on the border. During this standoff, the Chinese Army has deployed Type 15 Light tank on the border and presently Indian Army has no comparable system to the threat of the Chinese light tank. That is why the Indian Army has deployed T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks on the border. In this Guarding Exclusive, we will tell you about the capabilities of the Chinese Type 15 Light Tank and Russian Sprut-SDM1 Light Tank in which the Indian Army is much interested.

Tanks are considered as the most dangerous weapon of any army and a good tank can be key to victory in any war. A normal tank like T-72 and T-90 tank which weighs around 45-48 tons cannot move on weak mountainous roads and therefore their movement is much restricted. Due to this reason, light tanks whose weight is lesser than normal tanks are more successful in mountainous regions.

Even during the 1962 Sino-India War, India had French AMX 13 light tanks that were airlifted to LAC by AN-12 planes of the Indian Air Force. Indian Army replaced AMX 13 tanks with Russian PT 76 which was an amphibious light tank. In 1971 India Pakistan war, Russian PT 76 light tanks proved to be very effective. After the retirement of PT-76 light tank, presently Indian Army does not have any light tank in service.


In past, at several times, DRDO tried to develop a Light tank, however, to date DRDO has been unable to develop an effective light tank. In the 1990s, DRDO tried developing a light tank based upon BMP-2 Sharath which is manufactured in India. In this DRDO Light Tank concept, a French GIAT TS-90 turret with 105 mm gun was fitted on the BMP II body. However, this project was closed by 1998.

Even after this, the Indian Army continued to search for light tanks and in 2009, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Light tanks which stated a requirement of 200 wheeled and 100 tracked light tanks. In this tender, Indian Army specified that the weight of the light tank should be less than 22 tons and it should be able to operate in mountain regions higher than 3000 meters or 12000 feet just like Ladakh. However, even this tender could not materialize in a purchase.


In 2020, during Ladakh’s standoff when the Chinese Army deployed Type 15 Light tank on LAC, the Indian Army felt the need of light tanks. Type 15 Light Tank which is also called ZTQ-15 is a third-generation tank of the Chinese Army. Type 15 tank has been specially developed for high mountainous regions like Tibet because of the heavy tanks of the Chinese Army like Type 96 tank that weighs 43 tons and Type 99 tank which weighs approx. 58 tons were unable to operate in the high mountains of Tibet.

The weight of Type 15 Light Tank is around 36 tons and it has a 1000 horsepower engine that enables it to move into any mountainous region. Type 15 Light Tank has a 105 mm rifled gun which fires a new type of APFSDS round made of tungsten alloy. According to the Chinese Army, this round can destroy most tanks at a range of 2 kilometers. Due to the lightweight of Type 15 tanks, the Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese Air Force can travel with two Type -15 Light tanks to 7,800 kilometers. Due to this reason, in no time, Type 15 Light tanks can be inducted into the Tibet area.


Presently, in answer to Chinese Type 15 Light tanks, India has deployed T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks on LAC. I would like to tell you that the T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks of the Indian Army are far more powerful than Chinese Type 15 light tanks because Indian tanks have 125 mm smoothbore gun which is superior to 105 mm gun used in Chinese Type 15 Light Tank. Not only this, experts believe that the protection of Indian T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks with 45-48 Tons weight is far better than the protection of Chinese Type 15 light tank with 36 tons weight, and in any mountainous plains like Depsang plains Indian tanks will easily destroy light tanks of Chinese Army.


However, there are some areas in Ladakh where T-72 Ajeya and T-90 Bhishma tanks of the Indian Army cannot reach and for those places Indian Army is discussing the procurement of Sprut Light Tank from Russia on a fast-track basis.

The full name of Sprut Light Tank is 2S25M Sprut-SDM1 and it is a new light tank of Russia. For making Sprut Light tank, Russia merged the chassis BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle with a fire control system and sights of T-90 MS main battle tank. The weight of Sprut light tank is just 18 tons and it has been fitted with 500 horsepower UTD-29 multi-fuel diesel engines. Due to its low weight and powerful engine Sprut light tank can reach any area of Ladakh.

Just like T-72 and T-90 tanks, Sprut Light Tank has been fitted with a fully stabilized 125 mm smoothbore which can fire any ammunition used by Indian tanks. The firing range of this gun is 2 to 2.5 kilometers and it is more powerful than 105 mm gun used by Type 15 light tank. Besides this, Sprut Light Tank can fire laser-guided Invar-M anti-tank missiles from its barrel. Invar-M missile with its 5-kilometer range is considered amongst the most dangerous anti-tank missiles of the world because it can shoot down low flying enemy helicopters as well as can easily destroy any Chinese heavy tank like Type 96 and Type 99 Main battle tanks. It is due to Invar-M missile Sprut Light Tank will be able to face any tank of the Chinese army. Besides 125 mm smoothbore gun, this light tank has two 7.62 mm machine guns, and one machine gun out of these two is mounted on remote-controlled weapon stations which can be used to target enemy soldiers.

After these impressive capabilities of this tank there is one glaring shortcoming in this tank. Just to keep the weight of this light tank on the lower side of the scale, it has been developed with weak armour protection as Sprut tank can only stop 12.7 mm machine gun bullets from the front and only 7.62mm light machine gun bullets from sides which is considerably lesser than other tanks. However, just like the T-90 tank, for improving armour protection, Sprut Light Tank can also be fitted with Explosive reactive armour (ERA) panels.

Finally, two advantages that make this light tank a unique tank in the world. Firstly, this light tank is the only tank in the world that can be airdropped, and surprisingly, during the airdrop troops can be sitting inside the tank which means that as soon as sprut light tank lands on the ground it can immediately start destroying enemy tanks. Secondly, this light tank is a fully amphibious tank that can float on the water surface. Sprut light tank has two waterjets due to which it can swim at speed of 7 kilometer per hour.
Sprut tank has three crew members which include commander, gunner, and driver. A single IL-76 transport aircraft of the Indian Air force can para drop two Sprut light tanks with their crew.


If the Indian Army finalizes Sprut light tank deal then we expect that it will be fitted with additional armour protection, French Catherine thermal imager, secure Israeli radios, and Saab LEDS -150 active self-protection system which will make the Sprut tank even more powerful. Besides this, we also want that DRDO and OFB should jointly work on Light Tank project at a faster pace so that we can reduce dependence upon imported tanks.

Team Guarding India is confident that the Indian Army Sprut light tank will prove to be a very effective weapon in Ladakh and it will be a formidable match to Chinese Type 15 light tanks. Not only this, in the future, if the Indian Army conducts any large-scale operations inside Tibet then Sprut light tank will surely be airdropped to support India’s Special Frontier Force and Para Commandos.

Exclusive: India discussing the purchase of Sprut Light tanks from Russia

Indian Army is Very Impressed with Russian Sprut Light Tank and Planning to purchase it amid India China Border Standoff.

guardingindia.com

Bro india doesnt need any light tank. In today's war environment main battle faces a lot of trouble. Syria army had 4500 mbt but then to they on verge of losing war but Russian intervention saved them. Israeli tanks also couldn't penetrate Hezbollah defences in 2006 war. A large number of tanks were destroyed in armenia Azerbaijan war. So light tank are more or less a piece of junk.

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

Even though there are media reports on light tank purchase (from Russia), I don't think any would materialize. In 2009-10 also there was a talk of OFB manufacturing Polish Light tank Anders. However, things did not progress anything beyond proposal stage.

Ever since the retirement of PT-76, IA never really showed any interest in its replacement. There were proposals of light tank from DRDO also, in the 90s using BMP chassis, however army rejected it.

The T-90 and T-72 if suitable upgraded with ERA and APS are more than a match for Type 15. Only deficiency, is low gun elevation angle. Also, there are very few areas along LAC where tanks can be successfully deployed.

 

[WolfPack86]

India in advanced talks with Russia to acquire Sprut light tanks for use in high altitude areas
India is in advanced talks with Russia to acquire a newly developed light tank that could be useful in high altitude areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Talks to buy the Sprut SDM1 light tanks were initiated late in July under a fast-track, government-to-government process, sources told ET.

The need for such tanks was felt after increased Indian deployments at the LAC following border hostilities with China, which has also fielded a range of equipment, including its Type 15 light tanks.

The new tanks are under trial in Russia, but sources said they could be inducted in India as well for a series of rigorous field tests before the deal is finalised.

India could acquire almost two dozen such tanks in the first tranche. The procurement is likely to cost less than ₹500 crore, which falls within the emergency financial powers given to service chiefs after the Galwan clash. The expenditure is expected to be within the emergency financial powers given to the Army following the clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan valley in June.

ET was the first to report in July that the government had given approvals for emergency procurement of lightweight tanks for deployment in high-altitude conditions, amid the ongoing border standoff with China. Final discussions on the contract are expected to conclude this year.

The Sprut SDM1 light tank, transportable by air, has commonalities with the T72 and T90s operated by India and would require minimal crew training to become operational. It is armed with a 125 mm gun, similar to the one on the T90, and fires all types of ammunition with the T72/90 fleet available with the Army.

India has a robust tank force, but all of them are heavy main battle tanks — T72s, T90s and the indigenously developed Arjun — considered more suitable for operations in the plains. While these tanks have been sent to the Himalayan border as well, navigating them on difficult border terrain has been an issue.

The Sprut SDM1 is designed to be airdropped from an aircraft with its crew of three sitting inside the tank. India has operated light tanks in the past and it has come in handy during the 1947-48 Kashmir operations as well as the 1962 war with China, but these have been slowly phased out.

India in advanced talks with Russia to acquire Sprut light tanks for use in high altitude areas

India is in advanced talks with Russia to acquire a newly developed light tank that could be useful in high altitude areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Talks to buy the Sprut SDM1 light tanks were initiated late in July under a fast-track, government-to-government...

www.defencenews.in

 

[Vishalreddy3]

Just one question! Why can't India upgrade its existing T55 tanks and fit it with Israeli hardware and use it as a light tank till the newer sprut tank arrives?? If I am not wrong pakis brought T55 for their Frontier Corps to be used near mountainous afgan border, then even India can do the same. Once sprut arrives, we can always transfer T55 tanks to border police especially BSF and ITBP and keep the remaining in army reserves.

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Army soft-pedals light tank of DRDO-L&T for China border
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani flagged off on Monday the 91st self-propelled howitzer that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has built at its Armoured System Complex (ASC) in Hazira. L&T is looking to complete delivery of its contract for 100 K-9 Vajra tracked guns by February, well ahead of schedule.

After February, however, once the army has been handed over the last of these 155 mm, 52 calibre howitzers – essentially artillery guns mounted on a tank chassis for mobility – the ASC Hazira production line will fall silent. Then the expertise accumulated by L&T while building 100 K-9 Vajra guns will start dissipating.

This is because the army is soft-pedalling the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) proposal to manufacture in L&T’s facilities a line of at least 500 light tanks, which will be powered by the same 28-tonne chassis, hull and engine that powers the K-9 Vajra.


Instead of the K-9 Vajra artillery turret that mounts a heavy, 155 mm gun that shoots over the horizon, the light tank will have a smaller turret with a direct firing, high pressure 105 mm gun, ready-built by Belgian firm John Cockerill.

The DRDO is offering the light tank for the army to use in high-altitude areas such as Ladakh, where the Chinese ingress last May has already forced the deployment of two additional divisions (36,000 troops) and the impending move of another two divisions that are being diverted from a mechanised strike corps.

To supplement the two armoured regiments (each with 45 tanks) that already defended the China border, the army has additionally raised two independent armoured brigades over the preceding decade – one for operations in Ladakh and the other for Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Each of these brigades fields 175-200 tanks.

All these 500-odd tanks are currently 42-tonne T-72M1s, which are too large and heavy to move and operate in the narrow, twisty roads and low-weight-bearing bridges that are found in the Himalaya. Nor are the T-72 tank engines customised to operating in the oxygen-depleted atmosphere at those altitudes.

But the army has still not backed the DRDO’s efforts to replace the T-72s with a light tank that is custom built for India’s rugged borders. The DRDO is offering a 30-35 tonne light tank that it says will be a match for what the army faces – China’s new Type-15 light tank, also referred to as the ZTQ-15. Built by Chinese public sector firm Norinco, the Type-15 has been deployed over the past year on the Tibetan plateau opposite Eastern Ladakh.

DRDO sources say the indigenous light tank will be at least a match for the Type-15. Engineers of the Central Vehicle R&D Establishment, the Chennai-based DRDO laboratory that designs and develops armoured vehicles, say they are working with L&T to reduce the weight of the 28-tonne Vajra chassis by 3-4 tonnes, which will bring the overall weight of the light tank to about 30 tonnes.

That will allow the Vajra’s 1000 Horse Power German MTU engine and Allison transmission to create sufficient mobility for the light tank, even at high altitudes where engines deliver less than 80 per cent of the power they would at sea level.

The light tank’s 105 mm gun will fire armour piercing ammunition to destroy enemy tanks, and high-explosive shells against unarmoured targets. Each light tank will have a fully-stabilised 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and a co-axial 7.62 mm medium machine gun. In addition, the turret would have a retractable missile launcher that can fire anti-tank guided missiles to destroy targets out to 2.5 kilometres.

A major hurdle to the tank’s design is that the army has not yet shared with the DRDO its notion of what design features and performance it would like. This is usually shared in a document called the “preliminary staff qualitative requirements”, or PSQR. Without this, the DRDO’s designers are groping in the dark.

Indian Army soft-pedals light tank of DRDO-L&T for China border

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani flagged off on Monday the 91st self-propelled howitzer that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has built at its Armoured System Complex (ASC) in Hazira. L&T is looking to complete delivery of its contract for 100 K-9 Vajra tracked guns by February, well ahead of schedule...

www.defencenews.in

 

[Flying Dagger]

Indian Army soft-pedals light tank of DRDO-L&T for China border
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani flagged off on Monday the 91st self-propelled howitzer that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has built at its Armoured System Complex (ASC) in Hazira. L&T is looking to complete delivery of its contract for 100 K-9 Vajra tracked guns by February, well ahead of schedule.

After February, however, once the army has been handed over the last of these 155 mm, 52 calibre howitzers – essentially artillery guns mounted on a tank chassis for mobility – the ASC Hazira production line will fall silent. Then the expertise accumulated by L&T while building 100 K-9 Vajra guns will start dissipating.

This is because the army is soft-pedalling the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) proposal to manufacture in L&T’s facilities a line of at least 500 light tanks, which will be powered by the same 28-tonne chassis, hull and engine that powers the K-9 Vajra.


Instead of the K-9 Vajra artillery turret that mounts a heavy, 155 mm gun that shoots over the horizon, the light tank will have a smaller turret with a direct firing, high pressure 105 mm gun, ready-built by Belgian firm John Cockerill.

The DRDO is offering the light tank for the army to use in high-altitude areas such as Ladakh, where the Chinese ingress last May has already forced the deployment of two additional divisions (36,000 troops) and the impending move of another two divisions that are being diverted from a mechanised strike corps.

To supplement the two armoured regiments (each with 45 tanks) that already defended the China border, the army has additionally raised two independent armoured brigades over the preceding decade – one for operations in Ladakh and the other for Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Each of these brigades fields 175-200 tanks.

All these 500-odd tanks are currently 42-tonne T-72M1s, which are too large and heavy to move and operate in the narrow, twisty roads and low-weight-bearing bridges that are found in the Himalaya. Nor are the T-72 tank engines customised to operating in the oxygen-depleted atmosphere at those altitudes.

But the army has still not backed the DRDO’s efforts to replace the T-72s with a light tank that is custom built for India’s rugged borders. The DRDO is offering a 30-35 tonne light tank that it says will be a match for what the army faces – China’s new Type-15 light tank, also referred to as the ZTQ-15. Built by Chinese public sector firm Norinco, the Type-15 has been deployed over the past year on the Tibetan plateau opposite Eastern Ladakh.

DRDO sources say the indigenous light tank will be at least a match for the Type-15. Engineers of the Central Vehicle R&D Establishment, the Chennai-based DRDO laboratory that designs and develops armoured vehicles, say they are working with L&T to reduce the weight of the 28-tonne Vajra chassis by 3-4 tonnes, which will bring the overall weight of the light tank to about 30 tonnes.

That will allow the Vajra’s 1000 Horse Power German MTU engine and Allison transmission to create sufficient mobility for the light tank, even at high altitudes where engines deliver less than 80 per cent of the power they would at sea level.

The light tank’s 105 mm gun will fire armour piercing ammunition to destroy enemy tanks, and high-explosive shells against unarmoured targets. Each light tank will have a fully-stabilised 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and a co-axial 7.62 mm medium machine gun. In addition, the turret would have a retractable missile launcher that can fire anti-tank guided missiles to destroy targets out to 2.5 kilometres.

A major hurdle to the tank’s design is that the army has not yet shared with the DRDO its notion of what design features and performance it would like. This is usually shared in a document called the “preliminary staff qualitative requirements”, or PSQR. Without this, the DRDO’s designers are groping in the dark.

Indian Army soft-pedals light tank of DRDO-L&T for China border

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani flagged off on Monday the 91st self-propelled howitzer that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has built at its Armoured System Complex (ASC) in Hazira. L&T is looking to complete delivery of its contract for 100 K-9 Vajra tracked guns by February, well ahead of schedule...

www.defencenews.in

Instead of 105 mm they should go with 125 mm barrel and offer Trophy like system from the beginning with two version , weight under 50 T class
. Make it our Next gen MBT

 

[Cruise missile]

Instead of 105 mm they should go with 125 mm barrel and offer Trophy like system from the beginning with two version , weight under 50 T class
. Make it our Next gen MBT

I think that army is not interested in light tank. It's good indication.

 

[Haldilal]

Instead of 105 mm they should go with 125 mm barrel and offer Trophy like system from the beginning with two version , weight under 50 T class
. Make it our Next gen MBT

Ya'll Nibbiars Na it will still weight more than 50 tons if going for a FMBT.

 

[Flying Dagger]

I think that army is not interested in light tank. It's good indication.

They'll import at last moment. DRDO is going in right direction this time and should not stop. Just upgun it more power and Trophy like system to survive . They have already done the hardwork with Arjun now apply it .

If they had done it in time there was no need for another batch of T-90s either.

And if they delay it further Russians will bring Armata in the game and then DRDO can let go off indigenous tank dream.

 

[Flying Dagger]

Na it will still weight more than 50 tons if going for a FMBT.

That's ok based on req we can have heavily armoured or light armoured version .

They should atleast go for it now. There is no harm in coming up with a prototype.

 

[Haldilal]

That's ok based on req we can have heavily armoured or light armoured version .

They should atleast go for it now. There is no harm in coming up with a prototype.

Ya'll Nibbiars Well for a full armoured one even with a compact size like the T 90's will weight anywhere between 57 to 60. For light armoured could weight around anywhere between 50 to 52 tons.

Another solution would be Repackaged Vijayanta. They could weight around 40 tonees. And deployed in the Himalaya's.

 

[Flying Dagger]

Well for a full armoured one even with a compact size like the T 90's will weight anywhere between 57 to 60. For light armoured could weight around anywhere between 50 to 52 tons.

Another solution would be Repackaged Vijayanta. They could weight around 40 tonees. And deployed in the Himalaya's.

We have T-72s under 50 T after upgrade. Vijayanta is short term measure which can be used for now.

K 9 chassis weight around 25 will easily bring a light tank under 35 T with all bang.

 

[Haldilal]

We have T-72s under 50 T after upgrade. Vijayanta is short term measure which can be used for now.

K 9 chassis weight around 25 will easily bring a light tank under 35 T with all bang.

Ya'll Nibbiars They should try not to go above 40 tonnes if happened then it would be difficult to use in the Himalaya. The weight limit should be stricked to 40 tonnes at all.