The Indian Army will receive light tanks in 2023 thanks to a partnership between the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The creation of the Light Weight Tank falls under the Make-I project category, which is a “government funded” project.
Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, “Work on the Light Weight Tank is going on in full speed. The tank will be completely prepared for production by 2023.
The DRDO has been doing research and development for the Lightweight Tank and collaborates with L&T. L&T will handle the manufacture after the project is finished and the Indian Army formally makes orders.
The DRDO chief that “We are involving the Indian industry as Development cum Production Partners” (DcPP). Numerous initiatives are being launched alongside the sector.
And this will assist the nation’s rapidly expanding defence industrial ecosystem, which is essential for moving the nation toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defense.
Has the Indian Army placed any order for the Light Tanks?
Sources claim that the Indian Army has not made a particular purchase for these tanks.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced a list of items earlier this year that will be produced locally in India as part of the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” project. The third positive list, which was just released, was intended to incentivize the Indian Armed Forces to purchase tools and other platforms that were made in India.
The third positive list was constructed using the 108 and 101 items from the first and second lists, respectively. The first and second lists, respectively, were published in 2020 and 2021.
The third positive list includes the Light Weight Tank as well as other large platforms such the Mounted Artillery Gun System 155mm/ 52 Cal, 7.62mm x 54 (Sniper) Ammunition, See Through Armor, and Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) for MBT Arjun.
A decision was made in March of this year to develop Light Weight tanks for the Indian Army under the Make-I category of the 2020 Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP).
The choice was made in light of the tracked 155 Howitzer K-9 Vajra mobile’s transformation into a 35-tonne light tank. The Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the necessity for these light weight tanks was felt during the continuing standoff with China, will see the deployment of these low weight tanks, which are perfect for use in mountain combat.
The need for Light tanks
Lightweight tanks were required in those environment after the standoff between the Indian and Chinese soldiers along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. The Indian Army has used bigger tanks like the T-72, which weighs 45 tonnes, and T-90, which weighs about 46 tonnes since it lacks light tanks.
The Indian Army published a Request for Information (RFI) in April of last year to get about 350 light tanks with a weight of less than 25 tonnes for use in high altitude areas (HAA).
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