The new indigenous light tank ‘Zoravar’ will increase the strength of the army on the border with China.

‘Zoravar’

The 25-tonne tank is expected to be ready by 2027 and is being jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and L&T Defence. India has unveiled its indigenous light tank called ‘Zoravar’, which will enhance the army’s combat capabilities and increase its firepower along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The 25-tonne tank is expected to be ready by 2027 and is being jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and L&T Defence.

Sources told PTI that it has been designed for rapid deployment on the front lines with China.

After the unveiling of the tank, DRDO chief Dr Sameer V Kamat called it “a momentous day for all of us to see the light tank in action.”

He said the development tests of the first prototype will be carried out in the next six months, after which DRDO will be ready to hand it over to the Army for user trials. “After all the tests, Zorawar is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army in 2027,” he said. Rajesh Kumar, Director, DRDO Tank Lab, said the unique feature of the Zorawar tank is its optimized combination of firepower, mobility and protection, while maintaining a lightweight design. This balance allows Zorawar to perform effectively both offensively and defensively. The tank will have to go through several tests for warfare in the desert, high-altitude areas and various climatic conditions before being inducted into the army. Initial internal tests of the tank were carried out at a facility in Hazira, Gujarat, less than two years after the ambitious project was approved, people familiar with the matter said. The tank will have a main gun of 105 mm caliber or larger capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles. It will also feature modular explosive reactive armor and an active protection system to increase survivability. The power-to-weight ratio of the tank is at least 30 hp/ton, which will ensure better integration of mobility with drones and battle management systems, thus improving situational awareness.

Eye in China

The Zorawar is being developed with the aim of countering an aggressive China, which has deployed similar categories of tanks near the border.

The Army plans to acquire light tanks equipped with sufficient firepower for deployment in high-altitude areas, with the aim of improving agility, mobility and operational capability.

Sources said it plans to deploy more than 350 light tanks, mainly in mountainous border areas.

This change in strategy comes after the 2020 clashes in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers lost their lives.

Following the clashes, which escalated tensions along the LAC, the Army has deployed several easily transportable M-777 ultralight howitzers in the mountainous areas along the LAC, including Arunachal Pradesh. The M-777 can be transported quickly by Chinook helicopters.

Relations between the two countries remain tense after the conflict, with India saying normality cannot return unless there is peace in the border areas.

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