SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant development aimed at bolstering the Indian Army’s air defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to propose an innovative Self-Propelled Air Defence Gun Missile System (ADGM-SP) based on the Light Tank Zorawar platform. This move comes as the Army seeks to enhance protection for its mechanised formations, including tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), against aerial threats. The DRDO’s proposal, if accepted, could see the rollout of a prototype within 18 months, though full production clearance might take over four years, according to an official familiar with the program speaking to idrw.org on March 1, 2025.
The proposed ADGM-SP system integrates a twin 30mm gun configuration with the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), a man-portable air defence missile, creating a hybrid platform capable of engaging a wide spectrum of aerial targets—drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft. Mounted on the Light Tank Zorawar chassis, a 25-ton platform developed by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for high-altitude operations, this self-propelled system promises mobility, firepower, and adaptability tailored to India’s diverse operational theatres.
The Zorawar-based design leverages the tank’s proven agility, demonstrated during trials in Ladakh in 2024, where it outperformed expectations in rugged, high-altitude terrain. By repurposing this chassis, DRDO aims to deliver a cost-effective, indigenous solution that aligns with the Indian Army’s urgent need to protect mechanised units from evolving air threats, particularly along contested borders with China and Pakistan.
Key Features of the Proposed System
The DRDO’s ADGM-SP is envisioned as a cutting-edge system with the following salient features:
- Twin 30mm Guns: High-rate-of-fire cannons for close-in defence against low-altitude targets, offering a robust gun-based option.
- VSHORADS Integration: The missile component, likely based on DRDO’s laser-guided VSHORADS tested in 2022, extends engagement range and precision against agile threats like drones and helicopters.
- Low Radar Cross Section (RCS) 3-D Acquisition cum Fire Control Radar: A compact, stealthy radar with digital beam-forming and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, enabling Track While Scan (TWS) and operation in jamming environments.
- Electro-Optical Fire Control System (EOFCS): Comprising a Thermal Imaging (TI) sight and optical sight for angular tracking, ensuring target acquisition and engagement under all weather conditions, day or night.
- Fire Control Computer (FCC): Coordinates inputs from the radar and EOFCS, allowing seamless switching between gun and missile modes for optimal response.
- Dual-Mode Engagement: Capable of engaging targets using either the Fire Control Radar or EOFCS, enhancing flexibility across varying light and atmospheric conditions.
This combination of guns, missiles, and advanced sensors positions the system as a versatile shield for mechanised formations, capable of countering both massed drone attacks and precision strikes by manned aircraft.
The Zorawar-based proposal could compete with international offerings, such as South Korea’s K30 Biho Hybrid and Russia’s Pantsir-S1, which the Army has evaluated. However, DRDO’s indigenous design offers advantages in cost, customization, and sovereignty, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Light Tank Zorawar’s lightweight chassis (25 tons versus the 40+ tons of traditional SPAAGs) ensures deployability in high-altitude regions like Ladakh and Sikkim, where heavier systems struggle.
An official aware of the proposal told idrw.org that, if accepted by the Indian Army, DRDO could deliver a prototype within 18 months—potentially by mid-2026. This ambitious timeline leverages existing technologies: the Zorawar platform, VSHORADS missiles (already in limited production), and proven radar/EOFCS systems from projects like the Akash missile. The twin 30mm guns, possibly sourced from Ordnance Factory Board upgrades or new designs, would require integration testing, a process DRDO is confident of fast-tracking.
However, the official cautioned that full production clearance could take over four years, pushing induction to 2029 or beyond. This extended timeline accounts for rigorous Army trials—mobility, firepower, and survivability tests across desert, plains, and mountainous terrain—followed by iterative refinements. The Army’s stringent requirements for day-night operability, anti-jamming resilience, and seamless radar-EOFCS integration will demand exhaustive validation, a process that has historically delayed DRDO projects like the Arjun tank.
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