Then why the GSQR was put for such a machinery in first place, oh hold one one more twist now:
Printarticle-DNA E-Paper - Daily News & Analysis -Mumbai,India
Army gives Israeli twist to Arjun tale
Wants machinery to be improved as suggested by Israel Military Industries
Josy Joseph. New Delhi
The army has added a few new twists, including an Israeli factor, to the ongoing Arjun tank saga, by agreeing to hold comparative trials between the indigenous tank and T-90 and T-72 tanks bought from Russia.
According to authoritative sources, army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor has written to defence minister AK Antony agreeing to hold the comparative trials, but it has put down several conditions for accepting the 124 Arjun tanks ordered earlier. This is the latest twist in the story of the indigenous Arjun tank, which has been under trial for 14 years now.
For the first 62 tanks, the army chief suggested several corrections based on the findings of the army team, which carried out exhaustive field trials of the tank. But what has added a new twist is the army demand that the second batch of 62 tanks be improved according to the standards laid down by the Israel Military Industries (IMI).
DRDO had called in IMI last year to assist it in design improvement and production engineering. But the IMI suggestions have become a fresh albatross around the research agencys neck, as it struggles to get the army to accept the Arjun.
The appointment of IMI as a consultant was surprising for many, but now the army has seized on the DRDO move. The army demand could further delay induction of the entire 124 tanks. All the 124 hulls are ready. We dont know how we can now carry out major changes, says a source involved in the Arjun project.
Ministry sources say they are looking at getting at least 14 of them ready by February so that they can take part in summer trials alongside the T-90s and T-72s. The army had for a long time resisted carrying out any comparative trials, but the army chief has now agreed to such trials.
Sources said the army chief has said the first 62 would be accepted with improved firing accuracy, better transmission system and some other minor changes. The transmission system, supplied by a German firm, would need some hardware improvement besides the software improvement carried out recently.
j_josy@dnaindia.net