Zorawar Light Tank

[fire starter]

View: https://x.com/strategicfront/status/1842874814890934634?t=MS3Tyjjf36WIW0xCD021RQ&s=19

 

[Satish Sharma Ji]

Honestly I am not sure if I should be happy or Sad about this Tank,
On One hand I am happy that the project moved this fast and a prototype is ready in just 2 years and will be heading for user trials by the end of the year even after the German Engine Fiasco.

But On the other hand I am sad that this thing is just a screwdrivered item (with almost everything other than the chassis being imported)

Tracks - American Composite Rubber Tracks (most probably from a company called Soucy defence)
Although an indigenous alternative is under development under DRDO TDF scheme

Turret - Belgian John Cockerill's 3105 turret

Engine - American Cummins VTA903E-T760 (760hp Engine)

Transmission - German RENK transmission (Could be American also, not sure about this)

Anti Tank Rounds - Atleast They are Indian, (DRDO had developed APFSDS and HE rounds for Vijayanta tank)
View attachment 10140

Electronics & Optronics - French Safran Paseo

Sab kuch to imported hai, to Bhai indigenous kya hai, bas design.

The other thing that Saddens me is it's protection, this thing is so lightly protected that it can barely be called a tank.

Even if we are to use this thing as Infantry support how do you prevent it from being destroyed by the likes of Type-08 IFV's which have a 30mm main gun, because the turret is only rated for STANAG 4569 IV.
This thing at the very least needs protection from 30mm auto cannon because that's what it's most likely to face off against.

No Hardkill APS means 0 protection against any kind of ATGM or Anti Tank Round, this thing would be a sitting duck if by any chance it faces literally anything more powerful than a 30mm

Another thing that's bugging me is it's Anemic Anti Drone Protection, I don't see any CUAS systems present on the tank.
I am not sure about the RCWS either (I have rarely seen a 12.7 be useful against drones in the Ukraine War)
Honestly a programmable auto cannon straight from Abrams X would have been the best, but that's just me being foolish

Anyways I know I am being a bit greedy here but something like KF 51's 360° Camera placement for see through Armour capability and something similar to Elbit Iron Vision would have been amazing


All this because somebody somewhere is insistent on it being 25 tons when in reality this thing should be 30 tons with a more powerful engine and better protection.

I just hope an Indigenous Turret and Engine are in the works.

Tonbo will be supplying see through armour.

Sammer kamat sir has already spoke abt indigeneous turret with indigeneous gun to used in series production

As u said There is already a project for replacing foreign tracks. There priority was to roll it out as early as possible for usual reasons.

Engine is also going to be indigenised made in india,
Not sure abt transmission,
But they should have shared the engine of ficv.
Something like that.

The visionics and fcs will be replaced by indigeneous alternatives most likely made by tonbo and bel.

It is just a prototype how could you expect it to have its desired anti drone systems ready onboard??
It is gonna be there they have made provision

IA didn't ask for hardkill aps but drdo has made provision for it. Could get in future

 

[Satish Sharma Ji]

Turret is the most important part of a tank, and since that is an imported maal we can't "tweak it endlessly" as you are claiming.
We will have to go to the OEM everytime we make a change to the tank
Wanna add some upgrades to the Battlefield Management System, go ask the OEM to certify it, wanna add an APS go ask the OEM to certify it, wanna make upgrades to the FCS using field performance data, go ask the OEM to certify it.

Wanna add your own Optronics to the tank, well tough luck the OEM is asking for an arm and a leg to certify it


I agree that Developing a engine or turrent is a extremely expensive affair, and I am fine with the foreign engine but at the very least Turret should be indigenous because if the Turret is foreign then it's not better than having a licence produced foreign tank because in both cases you are dependent on the OEM to certify any changes.


I agree that on procurement process very bad and no one would want MoD as their only customer but these companies are not spotless either
Even when the end customer was the civilian market these bloody manufacturers never bothered to do proper R&D on local engines, all of them mostly rely on foreign designers to design and certify their engines,

I think Sameer v kamat has already made it clear zorawar will have indigeneous turret and indigeneous gun system.