SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a surprising turn of events, India’s ambitious Light Battle Tank project, codenamed Project Zorawar, has encountered an unexpected hurdle. According to a recent report by Times Now, the designers of the tank have decided to replace the originally planned German-origin MTU engine with the Cummins Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) in the prototype of the Light Battle Tank. While the exact reasons behind this abrupt change have not been officially disclosed, speculation suggests it might be due to supply chain issues, prompting the need for a last-minute switch.
The decision to replace the engine on the prototype, which was initially slated for rollout later this month, is likely to introduce delays in the project’s timeline. The change entails not only replacing the engine itself but also requires a comprehensive assessment and adjustment of the tank’s internal components to accommodate the new engine’s specifications.
The move from the MTU engine to the Cummins ACE engine might lead to a delay of a few months in the prototype rollout, pushing the anticipated unveiling of the Light Battle Tank to the following year.
One of the critical reasons behind the decision to replace the foreign-origin engine with the Cummins ACE engine could be to mitigate any potential disruptions in the supply chain. Ensuring a reliable and consistent source of components and systems is paramount in defense projects, as they directly impact the project’s timeline and functionality.
The Light Battle Tank project is a crucial endeavor for the Indian defense forces, aiming to provide a state-of-the-art armored vehicle capable of addressing the unique challenges posed by high-altitude regions, such as the Ladakh sector along the China border. The indigenous 1000hp engine, currently under development, is expected to be the final powerplant for the production version of the tank.
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