I said this aeons ago long before Doklam and people asked me ? when there was no need! I again repeat,where is our roadmap for AVs? Our entire AV acquisitions in the last few decades has been a knee-jerk response to Pak first acquiring TU-80UDs,we then rushed into buying T-90s,lethargic attitude to developing and refining Arjun,which one must admit also came with its larger/heavier baggage. Now after Doklam and the sudden dawning upon our MOD stalwarts that we need a light tank for the mountains! If only the IA/MOD had listened earlier to Uncle Phillipov...
For the sake of repetition,here goes. It will take another decade for us to develop a light tank and for a few paltry hundreds,not worth it. The need of the hour is NOW.
The BMPs too aren't perfect,long in the tooth and need major upgrading.The available alternative is thus,
"the light tank for all climates,seasons,terrain,etc."...watch the video.
2S25 Sprut SD: Extremely Dangerous "Flying" Tanks Of Russian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELKxVHDCY_w
125MM main gun,outgunning the Chin piglet.H'pneumatic suspension,ATGMs can be fire from the main gun.Auto-loader.3 man crew.Amphibious,70km speed,Can be air-dropped with crew aboard! Weighs only 18-20t,would fit into our IL-76s and C-17s,and can have additional ERA modular armour fitted if need be.Watch the v.good v-clip. Wiki has more detailed specs,history,etc.An interesting feature in that it can reduce its height by 2ft. and can operate at alt. of 4000M,well above the IA requirement.
Possessing a high power-to-weight ratio of 28.3 hp/tonne, the 2S25 can operate in high altitudes of up to 4000 m, while the installed rubber-clad shoes or snow-riding tracks expand the vehicle's capabilities in various climates.[4] According to the manufacturer, the 2S25 can also be employed as a light amphibious tank by rapid deployment forces, airborne, marine and special purpose units. With its low weight, it can become essential in mountains and swamps regions, where heavy equipment cannot travel. The 2S25 is designed to be parachuted from aircraft such as the Il-76 with the crew inside, allowing nearly immediate combat readiness upon landing to provide high firepower alongside paratroopers.[6]
Like other tank destroyers, the Sprut-SD is designed to fight and destroy modern main battle tanks such as the M1A2 Abrams or the Merkava IV. The large caliber can be used to destroy armored personnel carriers and other mobile armored targets as well; giving fire support to paratroopers at any time. The 2S25 can be used to destroy strongholds and defensive structures using its Sprut anti-tank gun. While amphibious, it can climb onto ships under its own power during a combat mission.[10]
Specifications
Weight 18 t (20 short tons; 18 long tons)
Length 9.77 m (32 ft 1 in) (gun forward)
7.08 m (23 ft 3 in) (chassis)
Width 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Height 2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew 3
Armor Turret – Welded steel
Hull – Aluminum alloy with composite skin
Main
armament
125 mm 2A75 smoothbore gun
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun
Engine 2V-06-2S water cooled diesel engine
510 hp (380 kW)
Power/weight 28.3 hp/tonne (21.1 kW/tonne)
Suspension Hydropneumatic suspension with variable height control (190 mm−590 mm)
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)
Speed 70 km/h (43 mph) (road)
45 km/h (28 mph) (off-road)
10 km/h (6.2 mph) (water)
PS:RK spot on! This has also been my wet dream,that we posses our own MC akin to the USMC,but much smaller.These light tanks could be extremely useful should another BDesh like situ arise,postioning such AVs in our island territories,etc. and of course using hundreds of these tanks in the mountains as well as in the riverine/canal plains in the Punjab,esp across the Paki canal defences on the other side.