Indian Light Tank: News & Discussion

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 07 Sep 2025 19:23

Amidst India-China Thaw, Zorawar Light Tank To Begin Army Trials
https://www.livefistdefence.com/amidst- ... my-trials/
07 Sept 2025

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 07 Sep 2025 23:44

https://x.com/wartrophy_414/status/1964405993321935331 ---> The side box launchers on the Zorawar turret are ATGM launchers.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 16 Sep 2025 20:19

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1967949493313364042 ---> Zorawar MLT cutout diagram.

vonkabra · Post by **vonkabra** » 18 Sep 2025 11:54

Zorawar has undergone extensive trials in desert terrain. Could anyone provide clarity on why a tank meant for mountain operations needs to be tested in the desert? I could have understood if they tested it on the Eastern Front for Bangladesh-type terrain, but the desert??

DRDO successfully conducts first phase of field firing trials of Indian light tank ‘Zorawar’
https://ddnews.gov.in/en/drdo-successfu ... k-zorawar/
14 Sept 2024

SRajesh · Post by **SRajesh** » 18 Sep 2025 12:48

^^ saar
The only thing I can think of is Tibet is an High altitude desert climate zone
Now you cannot create Low O2 levels but can have low temps early morning or late nights in the desert with temps falling
We probably dont have adequate terrain in Ladak for testing or want to keep it away from prying eyes

vonkabra · Post by **vonkabra** » 18 Sep 2025 18:04

Ok, at least that has some logic to it...

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 28 Sep 2025 19:33

DRDO Confirms Zorawar Light Tank's Adaptable Design, Paving the Way for More Powerful 32-ton Variant with 120mm Turret and 800hp Engine
https://defence.in/threads/drdo-confirm ... ine.13470/

zorawar-light-tank-set-for-indigenous-powertrain-upgrade-800hp-engine-and-local-transmission-to-replace-cummins
https://idrw.org/zorawar-light-tank-set ... e-cummins/

So there is a Zorawar MK2 weighing 32 tons, 800 hp Indigenous engine and 120mm gun.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 28 Sep 2025 21:41

Let's have weight increase on the light tanks and weight reduction on the main tanks

What next - the MK3 Medium weighing in at 40, the MK4 Main at 50 and the MK5 NG at 60 tons... oh wait.

S_Madhukar · Post by **S_Madhukar** » 29 Sep 2025 05:26

I am already wondering if chassis is strong enough … looks like strong shoulders and skinny legs…

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 29 Sep 2025 08:07

Zorawar MK1 will be inducted. MK2 is something that is being tried with the strong possibility of induction post trials. 120mm gun, light tank is very good especially you want a light tank deployed across regions. The 105mm gun is a compromise for Ladakh. If T-72 can be air transportable, the MK2 can also be done so provided, it will carry a single MK2 to Leh compared to 2 MK1s. Whereas this 800hp, 120mm gun variant can be mass produced and deployed across the western front. Will come in handy in many situations.

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 29 Sep 2025 08:12

S_Madhukar wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 05:26 I am already wondering if chassis is strong enough … looks like strong shoulders and skinny legs…

Learning from Arjun experience, DRDO must have accommodated the need for 120mm gun. What if after trials IA asks for 120mm gun? or they are able to design a variant as quickly as the old one to have the 120mm one with modifications. Even for the NGMBT, DRDO is working to provide both 120mm and 125mm gun options to the IA. Two variants of the tank. 125mm variant with autoloader.
DRDO Advancing Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NGMBT) Smoothbore Gun For The Indian Army
https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2024/1 ... -main.html

srin · Post by **srin** » 29 Sep 2025 19:13

What is more important than a 120mm gun is a 30mm gun for an anti-drone vehicle

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 29 Sep 2025 21:43

The squadron which goes out will probably not be a homogeneous one

It will have a mix of Anti-armor, anti-drone, anti-fortification,... units.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 02 Oct 2025 19:14

https://x.com/NetramDefence/status/1973625727846338629 ---> UPDATE: Future Zorawar light tanks to get indigenous 800 hp engine. DRDO-CVRDE and Ashok Leyland-made engines will replace US Cummins engines, ending foreign dependency for critical tank components. 300 - 400 tanks planned by 2027.

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 17 Oct 2025 21:16

Cross posting from missile thread
Zorawar Light Tank successfully test fired Nag Mk 2 ATGM

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 18 Oct 2025 00:55

How does the army plan to deal with surely hundreds of kamikaze drones that the Chinese will send? The “light” part means less armour surely. Might be an idea to have a drone kill platform mounted on top of the zorawar chassis like a quad zsu mounted slaved to a radar on another vehicle.

If Ukraine experience is anything to go by - armour movements are impossible under such conditions.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 18 Oct 2025 22:27

A unified CUAS + APS system that wards off ATGMs, RPGs & loitering munitions needs to become part of every tank and artillery unit

We have the building blocks in place

Btw, the 5 Km Nag-Mk2 testfire from Zorawar is phenomenal! I don't think there is any tank in the world that can fire such a long-range missile. This will make mincemeat of enemy heavy tanks, light tanks & IFVs, given how lethal the Nag is in both top-attack and direct-fire mode

It will be nice if they can have a universal canister that can fire both ATGMs, surveillance UAVs and loitering munitions. Will be a real force-multiplier. A handful of tanks in the battalion will have long-endurance, surveillance & targeting UAVs. Others will carry loitering munitions & ATGMs. All of them will share a unified battlefield picture. They can attack with coordination

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 18 Oct 2025 23:39

I don’t think there will be tank to tank battles. Ironically the very terrain that allows tank movement also makes it impossible. Open terrain will allow loitering drones to make easy pickings of these tanks unless they are accompanied by a really strong anti drone capability.

The Chinese have been developing drones for last 15 years. We have only just started.

bala · Post by **bala** » 19 Oct 2025 01:13

Battle formations have to integrate AkashTeer type cover otherwise progress is thwarted. Once that layer is neutralized ie. drones then the formation will easily overpower the remaining contingent of opposition. Classic tank battles are history. India has to work on anti-drone capability and integrate AkashTeer type controls. The light tank usage is mainly in mountainous terrain and this requires alternation of tactics and strategy in real battle. Overwhelming the drone navigation to seek out hideouts and other mountain features is a must. The anti-drone system need to be cleverly placed ahead of the tanks.

BTW all the APJ Kalam missiles envisaged by him are successful and deployed by Indian Armed forces. Only the small arms INSAS system is languishing. Arjun tank has limited deployment by IA.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 19 Oct 2025 09:04

Tanaji wrote: ↑18 Oct 2025 23:39 I don’t think there will be tank to tank battles. Ironically the very terrain that allows tank movement also makes it impossible. Open terrain will allow loitering drones to make easy pickings of these tanks unless they are accompanied by a really strong anti drone capability.

The Chinese have been developing drones for last 15 years. We have only just started.

A couple of decades ago some folks used to pooh pooh the chinese advances in tibet - few of the reasons given were - planes will need long runways to take off, planes cant take off with heavy arms loadout, planes will not have good persistence.

Well the chinese weren't dumb or sleeping. They went ahead and built very long runways, they built many of them. And they built lots of refueling aircraft and they are building a whole lot of planes.

And even more pertinent to this topic they built a world class Drones industry and ecosystem which dominates and dwarves the rest of the world combined.

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 19 Oct 2025 23:27

Manish_P wrote: ↑19 Oct 2025 09:04

A couple of decades ago some folks used to pooh pooh the chinese advances in tibet - few of the reasons given were - planes will need long runways to take off, planes cant take off with heavy arms loadout, planes will not have good persistence.

Well the chinese weren't dumb or sleeping. They went ahead and built very long runways, they built many of them. And they built lots of refueling aircraft and they are building a whole lot of planes.

And even more pertinent to this topic they built a world class Drones industry and ecosystem which dominates and dwarves the rest of the world combined.

Exactly saar. And all this in a space of 5 years. At this point they have almost solved the logistics problem. They can churn out transporters at a faster rate , meanwhile IAF is still twiddling thumbs as to what to buy - it cant find time or budget beyond MMRCA … The Chinese no doubt have some version of drones that can drop supplies as well - which they will produce in quantities to solve the logistics problem.

Earlier our deployment were sufficient , now I fear they are barely enough to avoid a 1962 situation.

S_Madhukar · Post by **S_Madhukar** » 21 Oct 2025 02:06

I think we need more ECM and ECCM vehicles mixed up with tank platoons. That should be the way - if not some kind of low flying sentry drones that can keep sweeping the vicinity of drones like minesweepers. May be they will be part of engineering arms ?

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 21 Oct 2025 02:47

Even that is sometimes not enough. The Ukraine theatre has drones that trail thin fibre optic cable behind them and hence are impervious to jamming. But yes, any mechanised movement now needs organic ECM and drone hard kill …

sudhan · Post by **sudhan** » 21 Oct 2025 13:29

Tanaji wrote: ↑18 Oct 2025 23:39 I don’t think there will be tank to tank battles. Ironically the very terrain that allows tank movement also makes it impossible. Open terrain will allow loitering drones to make easy pickings of these tanks unless they are accompanied by a really strong anti drone capability.

The Chinese have been developing drones for last 15 years. We have only just started.

I think we will be looking to include soft kill solutions like Tonbo wavestrike in the mix.. it has area effect and can sanitize a few sq kms ahead of the advancing tanks

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 10 Jun 2026 19:21

Will induct Zorawar light tank in 2028-29: Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 67368.html
07 June 2026

The light tank can be transported by air, perform amphibious operations, and fire at high angles of elevation to serve as limited artillery.

SRajesh · Post by **SRajesh** » 10 Jun 2026 19:25

^^Admiral sir
I am a bit worried by this statement
28-29' meaning some endless testing including over the Saichen Glacier!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 10 Jun 2026 19:38

What makes India’s Zorawar tanks formidable battlefield weapon? PM Modi briefed about capabilities of indigenous light tank
https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/202 ... -tank.html
05 June 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Larsen & Toubro's Hazira facility in Gujarat to get a firsthand look at the 'Zorawar' light tank.

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 11 Jun 2026 07:45

Lot more pics from PM's visit to Larsen & Toubro'. Cross posting from Artillery thread.
https://www.pib.gov.in/ShowAlbum.aspx?a ... g=1&lang=1

stephen · Post by **stephen** » 11 Jun 2026 12:17

And here we go again, We need better protection with the weight kept in the same category.

"New Delhi: A requirement of enhanced protection levels against enemy fire for the indigenously developed light battle tank is likely to result in a delay of about two years in the induction of the system and can pose technical challenges as developers will race to balance the additional weight against agility, said people familiar with the matter."

https://m.economictimes.com/news/defenc ... 642804.cms

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 11 Jun 2026 12:31

If the news is correct, there should be accountability fixed on those who framed the requirement specifications or the one who is asking for this change now. Both cannot be correct at the same time. Even the Army chief should be asked to resign from his post for this kind of failure on his part of overseeing it.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 11 Jun 2026 16:39

stephen wrote: ↑11 Jun 2026 12:17 And here we go again, We need better protection with the weight kept in the same category.
...

Were we expecting something different?

Looks like the 'Desert Ferrari' will have it's successor in the 'Ladakh Lamborghini'

sanjayc · Post by **sanjayc** » 11 Jun 2026 16:40

Chandigarh lobby makes sure that all good products never leave the lab .. they are made to keep undergoing tests and new iterations in response to new demands every time the previous ones are about to be met.
Modi needs to crack the whip on this devious play of import bahadurs ...

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 11 Jun 2026 17:07

Unless the DGMF is court-martialed and PM Modi personally steps in to monitor Defence R&D and Procurement (like he does for Gati Shakti), there is no hope

Wholesale sacking of an entire senior officer class & senior MoD babus is needed

But knowing the tinkerer that he is, Modi will do no such thing

We can only Kadi Ninda here and on Twitter

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Jun 2026 17:20

Indigenous Zorawar Light Tank to Gain NATO-Level Armour Standards
https://raksha-anirveda.com/indigenous- ... standards/
08 June 2026

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Jun 2026 17:21

India's light tank Zorawar may face delays of up to 2 years as Army demands enhanced protection
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 642804.cms
11 June 2026

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 11 Jun 2026 22:40

Rakesh wrote: ↑11 Jun 2026 17:21 India's light tank Zorawar may face delays of up to 2 years as Army demands enhanced protection
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 642804.cms
11 June 2026

A decade or so ago I had posted the clip from 'The Pentagon Wars' in the MBT Arjun thread... Now I am reminded of it.

SRajesh · Post by **SRajesh** » 11 Jun 2026 22:58

This just great!!
We want more protection but, Hmmmmm wieght should not raise
What is DRDO supposed to produce-- Mithril!!! Light yet impregnable!!!
This is is the same circus that ran the Arjun to ground!!
We have the Tinker, Tailor , Soldier, Spy setup so to speak.
NaMo will Tinker with the Ministry,
Kadi Ninja will tailor along
Why cant they move either Shri Gadkari or Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and get them fire a bright burning flare up the collective proverbial orifice!!!

williams · Post by **williams** » 11 Jun 2026 23:21

Rakesh wrote: ↑11 Jun 2026 17:21 India's light tank Zorawar may face delays of up to 2 years as Army demands enhanced protection
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 642804.cms
11 June 2026

Uh ho. Sprut-SD entered the competition now for emergency/interim purchase.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 12 Jun 2026 06:56

williams wrote: ↑11 Jun 2026 23:21 ...

Uh ho. Sprut-SD entered the competition now for emergency/interim purchase.

Sabar kijiye. Israeli 'Sabrah' bhi hai qatar mein.

Make in India vide JV with Adani

Zorawar ke liye Armenia aur Morocco hai na...

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 12 Jun 2026 19:41

Rakesh wrote: ↑11 Jun 2026 17:21 India's light tank Zorawar may face delays of up to 2 years as Army demands enhanced protection
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 642804.cms
11 June 2026

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/2065 ... 98131?s=20 ---> The death spiral of every light tank in history. Called it on day one. It really sucks being right sometimes.

https://x.com/JA_Maolankar/status/20652 ... 40152?s=20 ---> I believe these basic issues arise because of our cultural Systems Engg apathy/ignorance/arrogance. The foundational definition of a PDR is to lock in the core characteristics/size/config and most importantly-the compromises! In this case PDR was probably just another PR event.

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/2065 ... 79435?s=20 ---> To be frank, this has been a near universal issue with tank development, not just here/this tank. Your point re: Systems Engg ignorance/arrogance is why it will not change, at least in our country.