Arjun Main Battle Tank

In News

Recently, the Prime Minister of India has handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army.

• The Ministry of Defence had ordered 118 units of the Arjun Mk-1A, which are being inducted at a revised cost of over Rs. 8,400 crore.

About the Tank

• The Arjun Main Battle Tank project was initiated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1972 along with the Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) as its lead laboratory.
• Project’s Objective: To create a state-of-the-art tank with superior firepower, high mobility, and excellent protection.
• The engine, transmission, hydropneumatic suspension, hull and turret and the gun control system have been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.
  • Along with the CVRDE and DRDO, 15 academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs played an important role in the development.
• Mass production began in 1996 at the Indian Ordnance Factory’s production facility in Avadi, Tamil Nadu.
• Features of the Tank
  • Fin Stabilised Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) ammunition.
    • FSAPDS ammunition is the most lethal kinetic energy ammunition, capable of destroying all known tank armour up to direct shooting range.
  • 120-mm calibre rifled gun.
  • Computer-controlled integrated fire control system.
  • Stabilised sighting that works in all lighting conditions.
  • Day-sight, thermal sight, a laser range finder, panoramic sight, etc. in the gunner’s main sight.
  • All-round protection from anti-tank ammunition by KANCHAN armour.
    • KANCHAN is a unique composite material, which can handle a variety of anti-tank ammunition of extreme severity.
    • It has been developed by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL).
  • Secondary Weapons
    • A co-axial 7.62-mm machine gun for anti-personnel targets.
    • A 12.7-mm machine gun for anti-aircraft and ground targets.
• Difference from the Earlier Versions
  • The Mk-1A version has 14 major upgrades on the earlier version.
  • It has the missile firing capability as per the design, which will be added later as final testing of this capability is in process.
  • The biggest achievement is 54.3 per cent indigenous content against the 41 per cent in the earlier model.

                                                                                      (Image Courtesy: DRDO)

Significance

• The latest major and user-driven upgrades make the tank a world-class battle tank and will exceptionally benefit the Indian Army.
• The tanks made in Tamil Nadu will be used on India’s northern borders, a move showcasing India’s united spirit (Bharat’s Ekta Darshan).
• The development of this tank is being seen as a step towards achieving self-reliance in India’s defence production abilities, giving a boost to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative and also Make in India.

Source: IE