Context:

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully conducted the preliminary automotive trials of the Indian light Tank, Zorawar.

More on the news 

• The tank was developed by public-private collaboration with the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) (a unit of DRDO) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Limited.
• CVRDE is committed to developing the manned and unmanned variants of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and combat aircraft line-replaceable units.
• The tank has been named after the legendary General Zorawar Singh who led multiple victories in Tibet which is now controlled by the Chinese Army.
• This project was given to the DRDO by the end of 2021 to manufacture 59 out of the requirement of 354 tanks. 
• Zorawar is still undergoing trials, with full deployment expected by 2027.

Features of the tank:

• It is a highly versatile tank capable of deployment in high-altitude areas.
• Light tanks (25 tonnes) weigh half that of a medium tank and have a much higher power-to-weight ratio.
• This tank has integrated an unmanned surface vessel (USV) and loitering munition, which it has integrated after learning from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• The tank boasts considerable firepower, equivalent to the T-72 or T-90. 
• It is also equipped with technologies, like anti-aircraft guns, drone integration, and artificial intelligence. 
• One of its important features is its amphibious capability, enabling it to cross rivers and streams.

It is a hybrid tank with a prototype made with: -

• A Cummins 730 horsepower engine from the United States, 
• A Cockrill 105 mm gun and turret from Belgium, and 
• A hull adapted from the Korean K-9 platform already being manufactured by L&T. 
• Due to their lower weight, this tank can move at high speed in mountain valleys and two tanks can be transported at a time by the Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft.

Significance of the Tank

• It is a significant milestone towards India's goal of self-reliance in critical defense systems and technologies.
• This project is suited for India’s specific requirements in high-altitude combat regions like Ladakh. 
• The development of Zorawar signals a significant shift in India’s defense strategy, especially in its high-altitude warfare capabilities. 
• The ongoing tensions with China, particularly in the Eastern Ladakh region, underscore the importance of having advanced, agile tanks like Zorawar.