SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
India’s indigenous Zorawar Light Tank, a collaborative effort between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is poised to enter its first round of user trials with the Indian Army starting in July 2025. Having successfully completed internal trials and high-altitude testing in Nyoma, Ladakh, at altitudes exceeding 4,200 meters, the 25-tonne tank is designed to meet the Indian Army’s critical need for a lightweight, agile platform capable of operating in the challenging terrains of eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
The Zorawar’s rapid development—achieved in just two years—underscores India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative. As the tank prepares for rigorous Army evaluations, its induction by 2027 promises to enhance India’s combat capabilities against adversaries like China’s ZTQ-15 light tank, while also posing a potential challenge to Pakistan’s limited armored capabilities in high-altitude regions.
The Zorawar Light Tank, named after the 19th-century Dogra general Zorawar Singh, was unveiled on July 6, 2024, at L&T’s Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, marking a record-breaking development timeline of less than 24 months since project sanction in March 2022. The tank, developed by DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) in collaboration with L&T and numerous Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), addresses the Indian Army’s 2021 Request for Information (RFI) for 350 light tanks weighing under 25 tonnes. The project, costing ?234.5 crore (US$28 million), aligns with the “Make-I” acquisition category, emphasizing indigenous design and development.
The Zorawar has already completed significant trial phases:
- Internal Trials (January–September 2024): Conducted at L&T’s Hazira facility and the Mahajan Field Firing Range near Bikaner, Rajasthan, these trials validated the tank’s automotive performance, including mobility over 100 kilometers and firing accuracy against designated targets.
- High-Altitude Trials (December 2024): In Nyoma, Ladakh, at over 4,200 meters, the tank demonstrated exceptional firepower, mobility, and protection, successfully firing multiple rounds with consistent accuracy. The Indian Air Force (IAF) also proved the tank’s airlift capability, showcasing its rapid deployability to remote high-altitude locations.
- Second Prototype (June 2025): Unveiled on June 1, 2025, at L&T’s Hazira facility, the second prototype incorporated Army feedback, including improved suspension, an upgraded cooling system, and enhanced situational awareness sensors.
The upcoming user trials, set to begin in July 2025, will test the tank’s performance across diverse conditions, including summer, winter, and high-altitude environments, with a focus on its amphibious capabilities in riverine regions like Pangong Tso. These trials, expected to take 12–18 months, will pave the way for induction by 2027, with an initial order of 59 tanks from L&T and plans for 295 more through competitive bidding.
Zorawar’s Design and Capabilities
The Zorawar Light Tank is tailored for high-altitude warfare, addressing the limitations of heavier T-72 and T-90 tanks (40–48 tonnes), which struggle in low-oxygen environments and rugged terrains. Its key features include:
- Weight and Mobility: At 25 tonnes, with a high power-to-weight ratio of 40 hp/ton, the tank is powered by a 1,000 hp Cummins engine, enabling speeds of 60 km/h on roads and 40 km/h off-road. Its compact design (8.5m length, 3.2m width) ensures maneuverability on narrow mountain roads.
- Armament: A 105mm rifled gun from Belgium’s John Cockerill, capable of firing high-explosive squash head (HESH), armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), and missile rounds (Nag ATGM under development). It also features a 12.7mm remote weapon station and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.
- Protection: Modular composite armor, an active protection system (APS) to counter anti-tank guided missiles, and laser warning receivers enhance survivability.
- Electronics and Integration: Equipped with Safran Paseo sights, thermal imaging, a hunter-killer fire control system, and software-defined radios for networked operations. The tank integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions, drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Amphibious Capability: Designed for riverine operations, including Pangong Tso, with a low silhouette and reduced thermal/acoustic signatures for stealth.
The tank’s ability to climb 30-degree gradients and ford 1.2-meter water obstacles makes it ideal for Ladakh’s challenging terrain. Its airlift capability, demonstrated by the IAF, ensures rapid deployment to remote areas, a critical advantage over China’s ZTQ-15 light tank.
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