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

 

[Pundit Pikachu]

Tonbo will be supplying see through armour

Do you have any source regarding this,
I hope it's true but what about the rest of the Optronics

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

He just made a passing remark to the reporter at that time, I would not take that as an absolute source

Engine is also going to be indigenised made in india,

Once again what is the source sir ji, as far as I am aware we are only working on a 600hp and 1500hp indigenous engine.

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

A prototype that is going through "USER TRIALS" can't we even expect a basic CUAS optimised RCWS.
I am yet to see any "provision" made on the system
but if DRDO has plans to use something like a CUAS optimised RCWS, then I would the happiest person in the room

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

IA not asking for APS shows their stupidity, as for what provisions DRDO has made we will see about that, I am not even aware that DRDO is even working on a APS system let alone make a provision in Zorawar, but if what you said is true I would the happiest person in the room



Anyways you missed one important criticism I had made in that post, Zorawar's Anemic Protection, even a 30mm gun of a Type 08 can kill this thing,

 

[Pundit Pikachu]

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

All flimsy excuses, you want better power to weight Ratio use a bigger engine (go for a 850hp or even more powerful).

No aircraft in IAF inventory other than C 17 and IL76 can airlift this thing, so why limit it 25 tons and sacrifice so much protection that even a 30mm can knock it out.

WTF is he talking about, according to which law of Archimedes can let's say a 30 ton tank not be amphibious

Nominal Ground Pressure is the only logical reason the gentleman in the video provided so far.

 

[Satish Sharma Ji]

All flimsy excuses, you want better power to weight Ratio use a bigger engine (go for a 850hp or even more powerful).

No aircraft in IAF inventory other than C 17 and IL76 can airlift this thing, so why limit it 25 tons and sacrifice so much protection that even a 30mm can knock it out.

WTF is he talking about, according to which law of Archimedes can let's say a 30 ton tank not be amphibious

Nominal Ground Pressure is the only logical reason the gentleman in the video provided so far.

Maybe Future airlifters brought under mta are taken in consideration.

If you see most of amphibious tanks and ifvs are around 25 tons be it Korean k21 or Chinese type 05 ,Soviet pt76.
I think 25 tons is most desired for amphibious tanks. May be

Anyways this were some arguments i would hear even I don't understand what's logic behind a 25 ton tank..
Instead a 35 ton with crewless turret would have been game changing approach. Un genrols are indeed very much stupid

 

[Satish Sharma Ji]

Do you have any source regarding this,
I hope it's true but what about the rest of the Optronics

The rfi mentions a 360' integrated system.
There is only one firm which has already developed similar system called wolfpack by tonbo imaging.

Tonbo came out as a winner in a challenge by Defence India Startup Challenge under government’s iDEX scheme. They integrated they're star system on bmps and since 2021 there is no news abt it has army integrated it with its bms or not. We know what un genrols must have done.

Coming back this is enough to understand tonbo will be supplying they're current system wolfpack or maybe its successor for zorawar. As they're are sole developer and only one to integrate it on a system.

For rest of optronics ig we are capable enough to make indigenous alternatives.
Btw did you guys hear the recent new that safran electronics would be investing in india so yeah we got the answer. Existing zorawar optronics come from safran.
When we are capable of developing indigeneous one they offer or go beyond to secure they're profits. We make iir seeker for hellina would be making iir seeker for fox2s, irsts, eots for fighters. But would be using some one else fcs for a LT. Didn't we see similar things happening again we are abt to develop the indigeneous capability but yeah.
Safran secured it's profits well.
Otherwise tonbo , bel would be making visionics optronics ,fcs. Tonbo has already showcased many similar systems for vehicles it wouldn't take much for them to make a system for a LT.

He just made a passing remark to the reporter at that time, I would not take that as an absolute source

He gave an interview why would he give just hopes. Already kalyani has made it clear they would be making a gun for light tank which would go on zorawar and they're indigeneous one. Ig on bharat shakti or somewhere else I forgot.

Once again what is the source sir ji, as far as I am aware we are only working on a 600hp and 1500hp indigenous engine.

The Cummins would be making it in india i said indignised made in india.
Mod has already requested Cummins to setup manufacturing of this engine in its indian facility.
They can, They will obviously make it here. They already have facilities here.

A prototype that is going through "USER TRIALS" can't we even expect a basic CUAS optimised RCWS.
I am yet to see any "provision" made on the system
but if DRDO has plans to use something like a CUAS optimised RCWS, then I would the happiest person in the room

A prototype is a prototype it's a 1st freaking one. They would obviously wanna see its usual capabilities & performance. Or it could be like this the initial commited 59 units would have Belgian turret. I still don't think this user trials are for straight away for evaluating the system for orders as we all know how many trials army does ; ) before inducting any indigeneous system no way they would decide this on the basis of 1st prototype. Army is (just) evaluating not for orders ig. Trails pe trials trials pe trials hote hi rahenge; )

IA not asking for APS shows their stupidity, as for what provisions DRDO has made we will see about that, I am not even aware that DRDO is even working on a APS system let alone make a provision in Zorawar, but if what you said is true I would the happiest person in the room

Anyways you missed one important criticism I had made in that post, Zorawar's Anemic Protection, even a 30mm gun of a Type 08 can kill this thing,

I intentionally did ; )

 

[Mrpresident]

Guys question: Why is a light tank really needed? Is it just to match what Chinese have on their side?? Looking at war in Ukraine, these armored tanks are sitting ducks on mountains for drones and FPVs. Have no cover what so ever, these can be knocked out by hand held RPGs every time. So what is the use really?

 

[SlayingHell]

View attachment 11427The rfi mentions a 360' integrated system.
There is only one firm which has already developed similar system called wolfpack by tonbo imaging.

Tonbo came out as a winner in a challenge by Defence India Startup Challenge under government’s iDEX scheme. They integrated they're star system on bmps and since 2021 there is no news abt it has army integrated it with its bms or not. We know what un genrols must have done.

Coming back this is enough to understand tonbo will be supplying they're current system wolfpack or maybe its successor for zorawar. As they're are sole developer and only one to integrate it on a system.

For rest of optronics ig we are capable enough to make indigenous alternatives.
Btw did you guys hear the recent new that safran electronics would be investing in india so yeah we got the answer. Existing zorawar optronics come from safran.
When we are capable of developing indigeneous one they offer or go beyond to secure they're profits. We make iir seeker for hellina would be making iir seeker for fox2s, irsts, eots for fighters. But would be using some one else fcs for a LT. Didn't we see similar things happening again we are abt to develop the indigeneous capability but yeah.
Safran secured it's profits well.

He gave an interview why would he lie

The Cummins would be making it in india i said indignised made in india.

A prototype is a prototype it's a 1st freaking one. They would obviously wanna see its usual capabilities. Or it could be like this the initial commited 59 units would have Belgian turret. I still don't think this user trials are for straight away

Everyone is a Mag&ot including French, when they see they can no longer squeeze profits since indigenous companies like Tonbo,Paras are coming up with their own Optronics, these will establish some Screwdrivergiri plant. Iam sure that whatver Safran thing will be just Assembly where the sub-components are manufactured in France.

 

[Corvus Splendens]

All flimsy excuses, you want better power to weight Ratio use a bigger engine (go for a 850hp or even more powerful).

No aircraft in IAF inventory other than C 17 and IL76 can airlift this thing, so why limit it 25 tons and sacrifice so much protection that even a 30mm can knock it out.

WTF is he talking about, according to which law of Archimedes can let's say a 30 ton tank not be amphibious

Nominal Ground Pressure is the only logical reason the gentleman in the video provided so far.

Weight will go up with add on armor anyway. And I imagine a better engine is already in the plans.

 

[SlayingHell]

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

I didn't even understand after watching 10 times. Isn't it hp/ton that matters and not the tonnage itself? Iam sure there are 1000hp Powerpacks from MTU and Cummings or we could even come up with our own. Can anyone tell me what his rationale of limiting to 25-tons. For being Amphibious logic, iam sure Iveco SuperAV of US Marines standing at 32-tons is pretty amphibious and there is no bullshit limitation of 25-tons.

 

[Satish Sharma Ji]

I didn't even understand after watching 10 times. Isn't it hp/ton that matters and not the tonnage itself? Iam sure there are 1000hp Powerpacks from MTU and Cummings or we could even come up with our own. Can anyone tell me what his rationale of limiting to 25-tons. For being Amphibious logic, im sure
of US Marines standing at 32-tons is pretty amphibious and there is no bullshit limitation of 25-tons.

The iveco come in configuration from 15 to 24 short tons. 1 shor tons equal .9 tons.

 

[Satish Sharma Ji]

Weight will go up with add on armor anyway. And I imagine a better engine is already in the plans.

I suppose the indigenous turret would have good needed protection. And add on armour would consist the existing armour plates we saw with era's.
A better approach would have been crewless tank. Which would have given better protection to the crew. Reducing weight armour needed for turret.