India Took 35 Years to Make Its First Tank (And It Was a Total Disaster)

National Interest ^ | November 27, 2016 | Kyle Mizokami

[C19fan]

In the mid-1970s, India began development on a totally new, advanced main battle tank that would satisfy the needs of the country’s Armored Corps. An impressive combination of firepower, armor protection and mobility, the tank was to be India’s first indigenously produced tank—and one of the best in the world. The service date for the tank, known as Arjun, was confidently set for 1985. Instead, the Arjun suffered a tortuously long development period spanning two centuries. The final result, introduced into the army twenty-six years later than originally planned, is a mess of a tank that not even the Indian Army wants.

[C19fan]

Poor India. Two recent article bashing India's attempts to build indigenous major weapons systems. The Arjun looks like a knockoff of the first generation German Leopard II tank. Pakistan seems to do a much better job with indigenous weapons. One reason is they partner with China instead of trying to go it alone.

[BenLurkin]

“Spanning two centuries”.

1999 to 2001?

[rockrr]

Now that they “know” that the speed of light is fluid, why can’t time?

[freedumb2003]

Maybe it is me, but if I was Pakistan I wold not be very afraid of the Ghandi Tank. ;)

[2banana]

Wonder how is the tank’s software?

Hahaha!

[exnavy]

“starting in the mid seventies”

[ptsal]

...This seems to beg the question about China's skillful approach to gathering technology and manufacturing know-how...

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Spanning 2 millennia in fact.

I thought they were counting it from the last time they used elephants in battle.

[C19fan]

There is a direct connection from the tank to a call center in Bangalore.

[cloudmountain]

Poor India. Two recent article bashing India's attempts to build indigenous major weapons systems. The Arjun looks like a knockoff of the first generation German Leopard II tank. Pakistan seems to do a much better job with indigenous weapons. One reason is they partner with China instead of trying to go it alone.

Why don't they just GOOGLE "BEST TANKS IN THE WORLD" and they will know where to send their money.
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/top_10_main_battle_tanks.htm

FWIW: Neither India nor Pakistan is on that list.

[M1903A1]

The Indian 1A1 rifle was a debacle as well...in part because FN (rightly) suspected design piracy was their intent, and sold them some “sample” FALs made from out-of-spec parts. None the wiser, the Indians reverse-engineered them and some sample L1A1s to create “their” design.

When they couldn’t make their hybrid rifle work (because everything was WAY out of spec), they had to approach FN and Enfield for help—and not only had to make a public apology, plus pay restitution/license fees...but they also had to buy a quantity of FN/L1A1 rifles as well.

[\/\/ayne]

Why don’t you just buy your tanks from US, India?

[StolarStorm]

Yep, every time they stall they can try rebooting the tank. When that doesn’t work they may get transferred to an American that can actually fix the problem.

[C19fan]

Soviet Union/Russia was/is the main arms supplier for India. India thinks its a big boy country and should have a major arms industry like Russia and the US.

[chajin]

It was a tankless job, but someone had to do it.

[Gamecock]

[chajin]

Why don’t you just buy your tanks from US, India?

Because the US is not filled with rupee groupies

[cloudmountain]

Maybe it is me, but if I was Pakistan I wold not be very afraid of the Ghandi Tank. ;)

The Ghandi Tank fires:
blanks?
sacred cow pies?
flowers? orange or yellow chrysanthemums
worn-out saris?
beggar's bowls?
toy elephants?
real elephant doo-doo?
garlic stems?

http://www.asian-central.com/stuffasianpeoplelike/indian/
This is very funny. Reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy, the comedian who said: "Your a redneck if...."

[PLMerite]

Looks like it came out of a video game. An old one.

MkII:

[PLMerite]

Ghandi tank runs out of ammo and fuel, sits there until you surrender.

(This is the best translation of a tank hunger strike I could come up with.)