Posted on 08/03/2004 7:13:04 PM PDT by Flavius
MADRAS: India’s first indigenously produced main battle tank will roll out of its production hub in southern India on Saturday, the defence ministry said.
The Arjun tank, which was conceived in 1983 but has faced many hurdles, will be officially handed over to the army by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.
Designed and developed by India’s Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, the $3.5 billion project is the most prestigious conceived by the Indian defence establishment. However, the project had been mired in one controversy after another as many experts questioned its viability.
The army also found that Arjun lacked many vital features during tests in Rajasthan in 1994. Announcing Arjun’s official launch, the ministry said the tank has a "high degree of mobility, superior firepower and excellent protection". It said the tank’s computer-controlled fire control system provides accurate and faster target acquisition capability day and night and in all weather.
[ The Arjun Mk.I MBT Gallery ]
Specifications © Jane's Armour & Artillery 2002 - 2003
Crew: 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader & Driver).
Combat Weight: 58,500 kg (58.5 tonnes).
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 23.93 hp/ton.
Ground Pressure: 0.84 kg/cm2.
Length: 10.194 metres.
Width: 3.847 metres.
Height: 2.32 metres.
Ground Clearance: 0.45 metres.
Maximum Speed: 72 km/h (45 mph) - road. .......................40 km/h (25 mph) - cross-country.
Maximum Range: Un-refuelled range in combat; 450 km (280 miles) - estimate.
Maximum Fuel Capacity: 1610 litres.
Gradient: 77º.
Slide Slope: 40%.
Vertical Obstacle: 0.9 metres.
Trench Crossing: 2.43 metres.
Shallow Fording: 1.4 metres.
Engine: Prototype variants are fitted with a MTU 838 Ka-501 (from Germany) 10-cylinder, liquid-cooled, diesel producing 1400 hp @ 2400 RPM. Production variants will reportedly be fitted with a locally-designed engine developing 1500 hp.
Transmission: Prototype variants have a semi-automatic transmission (from Germany) with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears. Renk Epicyclic with hydrodynamic torque converter. Production variants will have a locally designed semi-automatic transmission, hydrodynamic torque converter, retarder and integral system.
Suspension: Hydro-pneumatic. The aluminium alloy rubberised track blocks have rubber-bushed pins, the track tensioners have a built-in overload protection.
Steering: Double radii, mechanical steering with neutral turn.
Brakes: Hydraulically operated high performance disc brake that is incorporated into the final drive.
Electrical System: Not known.
Armament: 1 x 120mm rifle bore, electro-slag refined main gun with 39 rounds (HE, HEAT, HESH, APFSDS and smoke). ...............1 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun with 1000 rounds - estimate. ...............1 x 7.62mm co-axial machine gun with 3000* rounds - estimate.
Fire Control System: Bharat Electronics AL-4421 Mk.1B Digital FCS.
Turret Power Control: Electro-Hydraulic / Manual.
Gun Elevation/Depression: +20/-10º.
Gun Stabiliser: Vertical / Horizontal.
Rangefinder: Laser from Barr & Stroud Ltd., with a reported range of 10 km.
Smoke Grenade Launchers: Nine forward-firing smoke grenade discharges, mounted on either side of the turret, with the upper layer having five tubes and the lower layer having four.
Projected Variants: Engineer Tank ..........................Artillery Support ..........................Observation Post Vehicle ..........................Armoured Recovery Vehicle ..........................Air Defence (Gun or Missile) ..........................Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge
Comments: In a written reply to Parliament on 07 March 2001, Defence Minister George Fernandes said the first batch of Arjun Mk.1 MBTs are to be delivered to the Army during 2003/04. This first batch, consisting of 125 tanks to be produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi, will equip two to three armoured regiments. The government has allocated $425 million for the purpose and reportedly the first of these have been delivered to the 2nd Independent Armoured Brigade. The MoD was considering diverting a large number of the 125 Arjun chassis to its self-propelled (SP) 155mm howitzer program (Bhim) that underwent a successful second round of trials in the Rajasthan desert in 1999. The South African SP system was successfully in 1998 and the MoD wanted another round of trials before opening negotiations of 120 units. The Army ultimately wants an inventory of around 400 SP 155mm systems through local manufacture.
The Arjun has been plagued with technical problems with regards to the fire control system, which has reached its developmental limit. Engine overheating problems in desert conditions as well as poor operational mobility, due to its excessive weight and width are also some of the other pressing concerns. Transporting the Arjun has also proved to be a problem, as the 58-tonne tank protrudes 6cm beyond the permissible 3cm limit on either side of tank transporters used for India's current MBT, the T-72M1. The MoD has allocated $3.9 million to build three transporter types to move Arjun. The improved cooling pack, has limited ammunition-carrying capacity and obstructs gun depression towards the rear. The commander's periscope sight, laser warning sight and muzzle reference sight also need modification. A recent CAG (Comptroller & Auditor General) report stated that Arjun's imported content had risen from 27% to nearly 60% in the 15 pre-production series (PPS), substantially enhancing costs.
The Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), responsible for developing the Arjun, as of mid-1998 built 32 tanks - 12 prototypes, 15 pre-production series, two torsion-bar versions, one test vehicle, one recovery tank and one Mk.II test vehicle. Officials involved with the project said a proposal to build around 40 tanks, enough to equip one regiment, before moving on to develop and produce an improved Arjun Mk.II was also under consideration. India was also looking for an engine to replace Arjun's 1400 hp MTU 838 after its German manufacturer recently amplified their price. Reportedly a locally-designed 1500 hp engine is under development. MoD sources said the additional cost of ammunition, spares and engineering support to serially produce two Arjun regiments over the next five years would ultimately push each MBT's cost to around US $4.7 to $5.3 million, reportedly far higher than the price for the T-90S MBT.
Features of the Arjun Mk.1 MBT
The integrated digital fire control system installed in the Arjun Mk.1 MBT consists of a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, thermal imaging night sight, meteorological sensor, stabilised panoramic sight for the tank commander, stand-by (articulated) sighting telescope, GPS and an electronic gate to ensure a first round hit probability. The third generation director type, fire control system with a 120mm gun electronically slaved to the sights, enables the gunner to locate, identify, track, range and engage moving targets while its moving. This gives a high first round hit probability. The gunner's main sight consists of a day sight, thermal sight, laser rangefinder and stabilised head common, to all three channels. The common sighting head mirror is stabilised in elevation and azimuth. The day sight has dual magnification while the thermal imager provides a night vision facility to the gunner and the commander to observe and engage targets under conditions of total darkness and smoke. The laser rangefinder is integral with the gunner's sight.
The panoramic sight enables the commander to effect an all-round surveillance on the battlefield without moving his eyes from the sight and without being disturbed by the motion of the turret. The field of view is stabilised with the help of a two-axis rate gyro mounted on the platform of the head mirror. The sight has dual magnification. The ballistic computer, computes the gun laying data based on information provided by a number of sensors mounted in the vehicle and on manual inputs and provides the signals corresponding to the tangent elevation and azimuth offset. To increase the accuracy of the firing, the fire control system has a coincidence window that allows firing of the main armament only when it reaches the desired position as dictated by the computer. The 120mm rifled gun will fire APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head), HE (High-Explosive), HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) and smoke rounds. A special 120mm anti-helicopter round is under development as well. All 120mm rounds use a semi combustible cartridge case.
The 120mm rifled gun is made of ESR steel and is fitted with a thermal sleeve and a fume extractor. The thermal sleeve prevents irregular temperature distribution on to the tube due to the weather influences. A new high energy propellant is used in the 120mm rifled gun to give a higher muzzle velocity and therefore greater penetration characteristics. A 7.62mm machine gun is coaxial with the main armament and a 12.7mm AA machine gun is fitted for anti-aircraft defence. Production Arjun MBTs will also have a new composite laminate armour called Kanchan. This will be produced by Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MDNL). The tank also has a NBC (Nuclear-Biological-Chemical) system that is designed & built by BARC and a night vision device built by IRDE. To further enhance combat survivability, the tank has an auto-fire detection & suppression system. Ammunition is also stowed in water tight containers to reduce the risk of fire.
Contractors for the Arjun Mk.1 MBT
Combat Vehicle & Research Development Establishment (CVRDE) Responsible for design, development and assembly of the automatic system including hull, turret, engine, transmission, suspension, running gear, electrical system and integration of all systems.
Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) Development of 120mm rifled gun, secondary and anti-aircraft weapons, smoke grenade dischargers, and ammunition for main and secondary armament.
Explosive Research & Development Laboratory (ERDL) Development of semi-combustible cartridge cases and high energy propellants.
Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) Development of the turbocharger.
Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE) Development of the integrated fire control system, day and night vision and sighting devices, laser rangefinder, ballistic computer and sensor.
Defence Metallurgical Laboratory (DML) Development of the high protection Kanchan armour.
Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL) Immunity studies.
Electronics & Radar Establishment (ERE) Electromagnetic interference/Electromagnetic compatibility studies.
Proof & Experimental Establishment (PEE) Proving of armament and ammunition.
Defence Institute of Fire Research (DIFR) Development of the fire detection and suppression system.
Manufacturer Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi.
Copyright © BHARAT RAKSHAK. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of BHARAT RAKSHAK is prohibited.
Wow!.......and exactly what is it's speed?
Thought I'd PING a few of the gang to THIS!
There's a lot of German parts in this beast - I wonder if Rheinmethal had a hand in the main gun?
Also, a first-production run of 125 tanks translates as four battalions - a brigade-plus.
Impressive for a first tank...
Is 1000 anti-air rounds gonna cut it?
Wow! You think that the Indians outsourced part of this?
And watch out for 'pirates' at sea and in port!
NOt interested in speed.
Can you find the thing's firing range? I didn't see it.
The main thing in modern tank warfare seems to me to be the ability to blow up your adversary before he has the firing distance to blow you up.
Doesn't look like any competition for the Abrahams in any case.
The end product isn't *bad* for a first tank (not that you get credit for such things on the actual battlefield), but you've got to hate what this is going to do to India's high-tech design image.Their design project ballooned in cost to $3.5 Billion. The first 125 actual products from that design will cost them an additional $425 Million.
That's $31.4 Million per tank! It doesn't look as though they properly isolated the turrent from the chassis to enable accuracy while moving over rough cross country terrain, either.
The beast does have the weight required to stop RPG's, so one presumes they got that much correct. They admit to having software fire control and hardware interface problems, which again hurts their high-tech image, too.
But 20 years from start to finished product won't win them any corporate fans in America.
5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
ping
Available options?
Color shoices?
Sound system and drink holders ... optional?
Think their help line will be in Minnisota or Indiana?
"Howdy. Tank Support Line."
"This is Srinivas. Problems I am having with the ammunition loading"
"Can you spell that?"
;)
Wow, Ramar of the desert.
The United States needs a tank which can operate in the fullest of combat spectrums, and which can move extremely fast, since we need to trade mass for mobility.
In India, they are bounded by only two nations which could pose any threat that a battalion of light infantry couldn't handle-- China and Pakistan, and the good roads to where they are are not numerous, and tanks don't usually benefit from getting too far ahead of the infantry. The better the adversaries and the terrain can be anticipated, the easier it is to optimize a tank for what it has to do. In that theatre of operations, getting tanks to the points of action will be difficult. Therefore, tanks need to optimize for three things: firepower superiority for the tanks that do get there; considerable ability to take a licking and keep on ticking, so that the ones that get there have staying power; and as good a resistance to air attack as tanks can have-- though you can't build that into a tank beyond some minimal point, so air and ground anti-aircraft assets have to be where the tanks are.
All tanks need to be able to shoot, move, and communicate, regardless of the terrain and situation, but a good tank for a given army needs to be optimized for the terrain and situation, and whatever it's air-ground support team cannot effectively provide, the tank had best carry, even if that makes it a tad slower and heavier than one might wish under some circumstances.
What can be afforded is another factor. Only a few great tanks are enough if the action is on a limited scale, but if the front is large and deep, what is needed is a lot of very good tanks, even if only a few of them are the best. In that case you deploy the lessers broadly, and use the best ones to exploit opportunities or quickly counter breakthroughs.
Interesting matter to contemplate.
My first thought was that this was amodernized Centurion.
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