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Rakesh wrote: ↑11 Jan 2026 06:53
The irony of Atmanirbhar Bharat ---> components of the "zealously-over-trialed-and-sabotaged" Arjun MBT is making its way into Russian-origin T-90s. Only in India will such miraculous events occur
This is by design. Similar to the concept of *digestion* by Rajiv Malhotra. An influential section of our Armed Forces want our MIC to be, at-best, component manufacturers and not system-developers because the latter is more value-added (read baksheesh) and we trust only foreign maal
If we do induct systems (like Prachand, ATAGS etc), it will be in-spite-of the AF Leadership, not because of them. It is due to pressure from the top (Parikkar, Modi etc) or some handful of believers inside the system who push through projects like Pinaka.
Prem Kumar wrote: ↑14 Jan 2026 19:49
Similar to the concept of *digestion* by Rajiv Malhotra.
This 'digestion' has happened for a long time. The Britshits stole a bunch of stuff from India include hero Newton with Vaisesika sutra laws - all of them, and of course calculus too. Math and science was India's forte for a long time and the entire decimal system was taken in toto by the west.
The armed forces are a legacy of Britshits and many of the customs/practices/ranks are from their systems, practiced even today by Indian forces. Indians became slaves to the Britshits and the rich ones were the brokers/dalals who made money running britshit systems of loot worldwide. The current moneybags of India have a history dating back to the drug trade of the Britshits. Their outlook is entirely different than the new breed of enterpreuners of India.
Indian army is probably the most behind amongst the rest (IAF, IN) in adopting desi maal. Though IAF for a long time was fond of videshi maal. Only the IN charted a course of desi maal since their budgets were lower than the others. Look at how IA gate crashed into the helo space by adopting desi maal from HAL and thumbing their nose at IAF. Maybe IAF can run armoured vehicles, they will adopt the Arjun.
India requires a Manohar parrikar type mantriji to set the culture of armed forces to true Atmanirbhar.
Admins please pin this video to the Armoured Vehicles thread, everyone who visits the page must go through this story and understand the ground reality. Finally the inside stories from the DRDO side is coming out exposing the issues within our forces and MOD. This is a must watch for every well wisher of indigenous weapons.
Why DRDO Took Decades to Build India's Arjun Tank: Ravi Gupta, Former DRDO Scientist
The Arjun Main Battle Tank is an indigenous weapon platform designed by the DRDO to provide India with self-reliant armored capabilities. Sanctioned in 1974, it was engineered to balance firepower, protection, and mobility specifically for Indian terrain. The tank features a 120mm main gun capable of firing diverse ammunition such as thermobaric rounds and anti-tank guided missiles. It utilizes indigenously developed Kanchan composite armor reinforced with Explosive Reactive Armor to withstand modern warheads. Its hydro-pneumatic suspension offers superior stabilization and allows for a pivot turn capability, earning it the nickname "Desert Ferrari" for its agility.
Former DRDO scientist Ravi Gupta attributes the project's extended timeline to complex, evolving technical requirements. He notes that frequent revisions to the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR), such as the significant transition from a 105mm to a 120mm gun, necessitated major redesigns. Gupta indicates that rigid bureaucratic structures and the parallel import of T-90 tanks influenced indigenous production scales. Consequently, the Arjun underwent exhaustive validation, covering 70,000 kilometers in trials to prove its reliability within the procurement framework.
Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd. (KSSL), the defence arm of the Kalyani Group, marks the first time an Indian private company has independently designed and developed a complete tank platform. According to company officials, the vehicle is scheduled for formal rollout in March 2026, with Indian Army user trials planned for September 2026.
The compressed development timeline under twelve months from concept to prototype
25 tons puts it in the same weight class as the Zorawar
So 5 tons more than the 2S25 Sprut-SD
Better built in protection (ERA, APS?) but lighter firepower (105 mm vs 125 mm)
Good luck to them. May they develop it to it's potential and see lots of exports. Orders from countries whose geography is not as challenging as ours, whose economy is not as big as ours and whose procurement system is not as 'complex' as ours
BTW, and I know it is just a rendering and also the angle, but the gun looks huge.. more like a 125 mm or even a 140 mm. Some general will probably ask for upgunning it by pointing at its weight compared to the Sprut
Will be competing in the Light Tank contest for IA. Also will look at exports since there is a huge market out there and the pvt companies are successful in exporting weaponry.
Interesting concept of the Turret!
Is that keeping in mind tbe recent incidents of Drone-delivered cheaper explosives taking out the Tank rather than a ATGM
Looks better as a modular concept rather than as a after thought 'Chatri' on the top
I feel they will still put a anti drone mesh on top (as an addon) even with the unmanned turret. It is cheap. Can be done in the field. Will complement the APS.
Vehicle Factory Jabalpur Comes Online To Overhaul T-72s
India is overhauling its ageing T-72 fleet as an interim measure before introducing indigenous Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV) by 2030. Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) completed a 2025 pilot, flagging off two overhauled T-72s meeting Army standards. The upgrades to the T‑72 Ajeya—improved armour, mobility, fire‑control, communications and electronics—extend service life and buy time for the FRCV programme. Overhaul work also creates export opportunities for nations operating legacy T‑72s. This dual-track approach balances immediate readiness with long-term modernisation.
Prem Kumar wrote: ↑14 Jan 2026 19:49
Similar to the concept of *digestion* by Rajiv Malhotra.
This 'digestion' has happened for a long time. The Britshits stole a bunch of stuff from India include hero Newton with Vaisesika sutra laws - all of them, and of course calculus too. Math and science was India's forte for a long time and the entire decimal system was taken in toto by the west.
Dont forget the Germans !! .. and the Americans even in the 20th century !.. loot and plunder of indian intellectual resources are wholesale
The new qualitative requirements (QRs) drafted by the army for the FRCV are unreasonable and follow its penchent of setting marvel-comics-like QRs.
..
An example of the unreasonable QRs is that the new tank should weigh 55 tonnes +/- 5 percent, with a crew of four, while simultaneously having frontal armor of 800mm RHA and a minimum of 600 mm RHA on all sides with blow-off panels.
No current tanks in the world with four crew members, whether American Abrams, German Leopard 2, or British Challenger, meet this requirement.
All of these tanks, which have undergone multiple iterations of improvements over the last decade, weigh nearly 60 tonnes or more.
Moreover, the army wants the tank to have provisions for all three — an autoloader, semi-automatic, and even manual loading for shells and missiles. Typically, the fourth crew member does the loading of shells and missiles if the tank does not have an autoloader.
Requirement of fourth crew member and all three ways of loading suggest that the army is unable to make up its mind, about what it wants.
Additionally, the army desires all the bells and whistles, including an active-protection system (APS) with 360° and top-attack protection against missiles, drones, and loitering munitions, jamming and electronic warfare solutions for soft-killing suicide drones, new-generation computers and electronics, the ability to control unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), and conduct manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations, all while having sufficient growth potential so that new technologies can be incorporated onto the tank as they emerge.
And all this for a modest price tag of $4 million apiece, amounting close to Rs 57,000 crores ($7.1 billion) for 1,770 tanks. Only one tank — the Korean K-2 Black Panther — comes close to this, but it costs a neat $8.5 million each and is operated by three crew members.
Here’s what the desert trials and comparative evaluations revealed when Arjun Mk‑1 was tested against the T‑90S Bhishma:
Desert Trial Results (2009–2010)
Accuracy & Firepower
Arjun consistently achieved higher hit probability at long ranges.
Its 120 mm rifled gun with advanced fire control outperformed the T‑90’s 125 mm smoothbore in precision.
Mobility in Desert Conditions
Despite being heavier, Arjun showed better stability and cross‑country performance in sandy terrain.
Its wider tracks distributed weight more effectively, reducing sinkage compared to the lighter T‑90.
Crew Comfort & Endurance
Arjun’s air‑conditioning and ergonomic design gave crews better endurance in desert heat.
T‑90 crews struggled with heat stress until retrofits were added later.
Survivability & Protection
Arjun’s Kanchan composite armor provided superior protection against APFSDS rounds in trials.
T‑90 required additional ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) upgrades to match survivability.
Operational Readiness
In comparative trials, Arjun maintained higher availability rates, with fewer breakdowns reported.
T‑90s suffered from overheating and dust‑related issues in Rajasthan’s desert environment.
Outcome
Despite Arjun outperforming T‑90 in accuracy, survivability, and crew comfort, the Army still favored the T‑90. The official reasoning was:
Arjun’s weight and logistics burden (rail transport, bridges, recovery vehicles).
The Army’s existing infrastructure and training tailored to Soviet‑origin tanks.
Concerns about long‑term indigenous production capacity and spare parts availability.
The Irony
The Army acknowledged Arjun’s superior performance but ordered only limited numbers. Meanwhile, many of Arjun’s technologies—thermal sights, fire control systems, and desert‑specific modifications—were later adapted to upgrade the T‑90 fleet.
The Army acknowledged Arjun’s superior performance but ordered only limited numbers. Meanwhile, many of Arjun’s technologies—thermal sights, fire control systems, and desert‑specific modifications—were later adapted to upgrade the T‑90 fleet.
I get the irony of desi development helping to improve the videsi platform but it is not that uncommon globally for systems developed for newer products to find their way back into older products
For eg - The case of the Apache attack helicopters (again from AI)
The RAH-66 Comanche program, despite its cancellation in 2004, acted as a crucial technology demonstrator that directly enabled the transition of the AH-64 Apache from a 1980s-era platform to the advanced, networked AH-64D/E Apache Longbow. The technologies developed for the Comanche—designed for low-visibility, high-speed, and intense situational awareness—were transferred to the Apache to enhance its lethality, sensor capabilities, and digital connectivity.
Here is how the RAH-66 Comanche helped improve the AH-64 Apache:
Digital Connectivity and Networked Warfare: The Comanche was designed as a "digital" scout, meant to find targets and transmit that data to Apaches. The software, sensors, and data-link architecture (like Link 16) developed for this, which allows real-time sharing of battlefield information between aircraft and ground forces, were integrated directly into the AH-64E, significantly improving its "Manned-Unmanned Teaming" (MUM-T) capability.
Target Acquisition and Sensors: The advanced Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) on the Apache was upgraded using technology from the Comanche program, offering better second-generation FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) for improved detection range and situational awareness.
Helmet-Integrated Display and Sight System (HIDSS): Comanche pilots were to use advanced helmet systems for "eyes-out" fighting. This technology led to improved helmet-mounted displays for Apache pilots, reducing workload and allowing them to operate more effectively at night or in complex environments.
Software and Mission Systems: Boeing developed unique simulation software to test the Comanche's stealth and target capabilities. They adapted this software for the Apache to simulate advanced capabilities, resulting in improved avionics and weapon control systems for the AH-64D.
Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA): The move toward a "Modular Open System Architecture" in the AH-64E was influenced by the Comanche’s modern, software-driven, and adaptable design philosophy, allowing for easier, faster software updates and new technology integration.
Reduced Maintenance and Operational Costs: The Comanche’s design aimed for a 40% reduction in maintenance compared to existing fleets. Lessons learned from the RAH-66's design—such as ease of access to maintenance areas and advanced diagnostics—were applied to the Apache, helping to lower its overall support costs.
Ideally we would have had 2 designs and competed . a desi T-72++ and Arjun. Of course Natasha would have ensured 90s got imported. IAF got tested a couple of times recently , when will IA tanks ever get tested ? Probably never so tamasha will carry on till a new generation takes over
