Russia Competes To Provide Light Combat Tanks To The Indian Army

According to a representative from Rosoboronexport, Russia will participate in the forthcoming Indian Army light tank tender with its Sprut-SDM1 light amphibious tank and has already filed technical information on it.

“We have provided our technological proposals in response to India’s request. Before the DefExpo, which will be held from October 18 to 22 in Gandhinagar, a representative from Rosoboronexport said, “We are prepared to undertake talks and display the tank to the Indian side.

The official said, “We are ready to transfer technology and provide assistance in commencing the manufacture of the tank in India,” adding that Rosoboronexport will unquestionably participate in the Indian tender for the supply of light tanks.

The Indian Army is giving priority to buying a light tank called “Zorawar” for use in the mountains in response to the impasse with China in eastern Ladakh. The Army published a Request for Information (RFI) in April 2021 for the purchase of 350 light tanks with a weight limit of 25 tonnes, as well as performance-based logistics, specialised technologies, an engineering support package, and additional maintenance and training needs.

According to the “Make in India” initiative, the project, which has already gained in-principle approval, is scheduled to be purchased under the “Make-I” acquisition category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020. It won’t be long before the Defence Acquisition Council issues its Acceptance of Necessity (AoN).

According to the requirements of the Army, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are working together to build a light tank.

Light amphibious combat vehicle

The Sprut-SDM1 is the first light amphibious combat vehicle in its class with the firepower of a main battle tank and outfitted with a 125 mm tank gun, according to a Rosoboronexport official speaking about the vehicle’s features. “The Sprut-SDM1 can employ all the ammo made in India for T-72M1 and T-90S tanks,” he said.

The Sprut can operate day and night on terrain, in the high mountains in situations of thin air, at very high and low temperatures, the official explained. It can also pass water obstacles and fire its gun while afloat. He stated that the tank has a guided missile system that can destroy armoured targets, including those that have ERA, at distances of up to 5 km.

The latest ZTL-11 wheeled armoured personnel carriers, the CSK series of assault vehicles, and the third-generation modern light tank ZTQ 15 (Type 15) have all been deployed by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh over the past two years, as The Hindu previously reported.