India has just announced the development of its own Light Battle Tank (LBT), the Zorawar. This development puts the Indian Army (IA) on track to compete with its main opponent, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLAA), with its Type-15 light tank in the Himalayan region.
Zorawar, a joint project between Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has rapidly created an LBT in under two years. The L&T Hazira played an important role in the development of the LBT prototype through a collaboration with the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), a laboratory of the DRDO.
However, as DRDO Chief Sameer Kamath acknowledged, this is merely the initial version of the Zorawar tank. It must undergo extensive testing in various environmental, geographical, climatic, and user trials before the Indian Army can officially approve it for large-scale manufacture and deployment. These trials will probably require an additional 2 to 2.5 years.
The Zorawar LBT weighs 25 tons and is manned by a three-person crew. It is equipped with a Belgian-designed Cockerill-3105 turret, which features a 105-mm gun with an autoloader capable of firing 912-16 rounds per minute. It is also armed with a 12.7-mm gun. Additionally, it has an integrated capability to deploy an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that enhances battlefield visibility.
The engine selection of the Zorawar light tank has encountered some unexpected turns. Initially, the developers selected the German MTU engine with 600 kW (804hp) output. Nevertheless, due to delays, the decision was made to replace the engines in the prototypes with a more powerful American Cummins 750 hp engine. This engine provides an optimal power-to-weight ratio specifically designed for operations at high altitudes. Reports indicate that Rolls-Royce is interested in supplying MTU 8V199 engines for the project. The Rolls Royce engine offered has an output of 800KW. In the long run, India’s goal is to create its own domestic engine for the Zorawar, which means that the engine situation is a work in progress, while the American Cummins engine is powering the initial prototypes.
The present prototype of the Zorawar LBT has a power-to-weight ratio of less than 40 Horsepower (HP) per tonne (HP/tonne). This ratio is specifically designed to fulfill the low ground pressure requirements dictated by the surface qualities found in the high-altitude region of Ladakh.
Another essential requirement for the tank is that it functions well in the low-density air of Ladakh, where the average altitude is 5,000 meters above sea level. This is crucial for the tank’s ability to meet its mobility needs in hilly areas, where engine performance becomes a significant factor.
The prototype unveiled by the CVRDE and L&T is lighter than the Chinese Type-15 counterpart, weighing approximately 33 tonnes. However, the Chinese version’s weight increases to 36 tonnes with the installation of more armor. This may happen with the Zorawar tank if IA were to ask for more armor on the LBT. Additionally, the IA may also request the integration of an Active Protection System (APS) to detect and counter incoming anti-tank munitions, a feature that is currently absent in the IA’s existing tanks like the T-72s and T-90s.
The first order for the LBT will comprise a batch of 59 tanks, with a potential subsequent order of around 350 tanks for seven tank regiments. Regardless of the number of tanks the IA intends to purchase, it is important that the DRDO and industry collaborate to ensure the timely delivery of the Zorawar LBTs.
Over the next few months and years, the Indian defense establishment and the Indian Army (IA) will face a significant challenge and an opportunity when they deploy Zorawar LBT against the Type-15 light tanks of PLAA. These tanks are currently stationed in Ladakh, Xinjiang, and Tibet as part of the PLA’s Western Theater Command (WTC).
DRDO Chief Kamath has stated that the Zorawar is expected to be ready for operational deployment by 2027 after undergoing user trials; it is crucial that this deadline is met as anticipated.
Interest in light tanks has also grown worldwide, extending beyond India and China, as other countries are now developing or acquiring these adaptable armored vehicles. The United States has allocated funds towards the acquisition of the M10 Booker, a tank that, despite weighing 40 tons, is considered quite lightweight. This tank has also garnered interest from Bangladesh. Turkey has demonstrated its expanding military sector skills by manufacturing the 30-ton Harimau for Indonesia, thus entering the market. Israel has designed the Sabra, a 30-ton light tank, exclusively for the Philippines. The Russian 2S25 Sprut-SD weighs just 18 tons, significantly lighter than other modern tanks.