New Delhi, April 15: India’s ambitious indigenous project “Zorawar” to design and develop Light Weight Tanks (LWT) for sector-specific operational requirements is expected to be ready for deployment in about four years, defense sources has said.
“The prototype of the tank is expected at the end of the year or early 2024. After that the development phase will take another 18 months to two years. The production will take another year,” sources explained.
A total of 354 LWT are to be produced of which the DRDO will manufacture 59. The rest will be manufactured under the Make 1 category.
Zorawar will weigh around 25 tonnes, armed with niche technologies to include Artificial Intelligence, drone integration, active protection system and a high degree of situational awareness,” an official explained.
The Defence Acquisition Council accorded its approval for the Rs 16,000 crore project for LWT in December 2022.
The projects under ‘Make 1’ category will involve government funding of up to 90 per cent under the Defence Procurement Policy of 2016.
The need for the Light Tanks was felt during the standoff in the Eastern Ladakh white the Chinese PLA was able to induct a large number of technologically modern tanks.
The Indian Army had to induct a considerable number of T – 72 and T – 90 tanks in operational areas, gaining tactical surprise over the adversary and thereby forcing the adversary on the back foot.
The LWT is named ‘Zorawar’ after Zorawar Singh Kahluria, the famous Military General of Dogra King Gulab Singh. Zorawar Singh was adept at mountain warfare.
EOM
