Sanku wrote:...
1) Fuel would be same AFAIK they both use diesel engines of similar robustness w.r.t. fuel, but yes different fuel consumption would be the case, as well as different rate of consumption of other spares and different times that are needed for each tank to reequip and overhaul in battle field. These will complicate the planning (not saying its insurmountable just pointing to details that would need to be considered)
2) Trucks will be common. The question is what spares you will carry. The number is ultimately fixed with respect to both the number of trucks and the tonnage that you carry. The spares that are carried are also as per statistical data experience based. Should 10 spare tracks be carried per troop? Or do you carry 15 with buffer? What happens to unused buffer? Can the buffer be reduced if you have two troops of same tank as compared to one?
3) Transporting the tanks will indeed be a major issue, along with spare numbers for tank carriers. There already are tank carrying rails and road vehicles, the question is do you want to spread them (say you have 10 tanks, 1 carrier per tank and 3 spares, if you split your 10 tanks into 1 each how will you split the buffer?)
4) Other critical equipment would be BLT especially in context of PakJabi terrain and defence systems
1. FOL (Fuel, Oil, Lubricants) requirements will be different (except for fuel) for Arjun and T-90 given their different engines, transmissions and other sub-systems. As a result, based on consumption patterns worked out during Arjun's AUCRT, their FOL stocks and supply logistics will be different too. Some of these FOL might be common but in case different OL are used on Arjun then the same will require supply-chain to be organised and sometimes even imported
2. Support vehicles can be broadly classified as general/admin and technical vehicles. The general veh like 1-ton, 3-ton, m/c, etc are obviously not an issue and are common across IA. Its some of the technical vehicles like ARV (Armoured Recovery Veh) which provide repair and recovery in battlefield conditions which need to be different based on the type and class of eqpt that they are supporting. These veh have to be able to winch, tow and lift Arjun and its innards and hence, it is possible that existing ARV for T-90 might not be suitable especially their ancillary fitments like air compressors, generators, cutting and welding eqpt, etc.
3. Spares for Arjun will obviously be different and the same will require their own set of specific equipment for inspection, repair and installation on Arjun. Consequently, the workshops and training will also be different along with their consumption and replenishment plans
4. Ammo is obviously different but ammo carrier/loader veh can be common
5. BEML has developed BFAT wagons (Bogie Flat Arjun Tank) for rail-transporting Arjun (and T-90, T-72, BMP-II) but their numbers are going to be dictated by number and transportation demands of Arjuns. The more prevalent wagon which can be used for T-72, T-90 cannot be used for Arjun, hence location and nos of BFAT becomes a constraint
6. Pontoon bridges are classified up to 60 tonnes so should be able to carry Arjun in it current specification
I believe these points have been covered previously but then this thread/forum members have immense patience to revisit the same discussions for the sake of newbies so why not once again.