Arjun News & Discussions

[heartwinlion]

I think from the experience of Arjun MBT. Army should go to Tank EX for future without any controversy.

BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR - Volume 4(5)

 

[ejaz007]

Indigenous MBT Arjun gets vote of support from Indian Army Chief

New Delhi, Feb 19: In a reversal of the Indian Army's stand on the indigenous main battle tank (MBT) Arjun, which has been 37 years in the making, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has written to the Defence Ministry appreciating the tank's performance.

The Army Chief's letter has come months before the MBT Arjun, which India has been trying to manufacture indigenously for more than three decades, is headed for head-to-head 'comparative trials' with the Russian T-90 tanks that the Army currently operates.

"The Army Chief for the first time has appreciated Arjun tank for performing well. In a letter written earlier this year he said that the tank was subjected to the most strenuous of tests and it performed 'admirably well'," a defence ministry official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.

The letter from the Army Chief came after last year's winter trials of the tank, which has already cost the exchequer Rs.3.5 billion ($71.7 million). The stand is a complete u-turn as the army had made it clear that it would buy no more than the 124 Arjuns it has contracted for because it is unhappy with the tank on various counts.

The Defence Research & Development Organisation's (DRDO) demand for the comparative trials of the two tanks is being seen as a desperate bid to save the Arjun as it would need to manufacture at least 500 tanks to make the project feasible.

"The Defence Ministry had been pushing for the joint trials for the past one-and-a-half-years but people in the military set up were not too keen," the official added.

A reluctant Army had also said that the Arjun can at best remain in service for five to 10 years while it is looking 20 years ahead and needs a futuristic MBT.

However, the Defence Ministry, which has been putting thrust on the indigenisation of the defence industry, wanted to see the project through.

On Feb 11, Defence Minister A.K. Antony had expressed his happiness on the Arjun tank becoming "a reality". "We have seen light at the end of the tunnel," Antony had said speaking of the project.

The tank has been mired in controversy with the army last year having told a key parliamentary panel that the Arjun failed to deliver at the winter trials conducted in the Rajasthan desert in 2007. The army said that many improvements would have to be carried out before it was satisfied with the tank.

Adding fuel to the proverbial fire, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh hinted at the possibility of "sabotage" during the 2007 winter trials.

The Indian Army laid down its qualitative requirement (QR) for the Arjun in 1972. In 1982, it was announced that the prototype was ready for field trials. However, the tank was publicly unveiled for the first time only in 1995.

Arjun was originally meant to be a 40-tonne tank with a 105 mm gun. It has now grown to a 50-tonne tank with a 120 mm gun. The tank was meant to supplement and eventually replace the Soviet-era T-72 MBT that was first inducted in the early 1980s.

However, delays in the Arjun project and Pakistan's decision to purchase the T-80 from Ukraine prompted India to order 310 T-90s, an upgraded version of the T-72, in 2001.

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

 

[shchinese]

lets face it....ARJUN IS A FLOP ...37 YEARS IN MAKING! Its time to move on

indeed. it is actually not that difficult to admit failures. for example, China failed in several major projects like J-9.

Chengdu J-9 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

you just need to learn how to move on and sit down to have a detailed analysis on why the project failed.

 

[SuperX7]

Guys friends and visitors,

I have seen the tank, ridden it and peeked inside...

the Arjun did used to have problems, but most are fixed now, the army had drawn a hardline on not taking it due to historical issues with the tank and they know that its better than what they talk about it, trust me you have to see it to believe it...

its armour is much better than most, can take a point blank hot from most of the anti tank ammo and still survive and hit back,

can fire while moving at speed and do that accurately

the ride is butter smooth for a tank

can ford deep waters well

gun is really a class and can fire much more than russians and still not burst

although its big, ground pressure is lower than russian tanks

electronics are state of the art, cooling is now acceptable and failure is low

aux power supply enables silent kill

gun can look down lower and still fire

the maintenence is high and cost is higher than T90 too, transportation is challenge, but its a tank killer and does that job without a hitch, it will eat up T90 for breakfast lunch dinner and still have some appetite for more, in a headon excercise t90 will not stand it, its a different class, it looks huge, compared to a T90

more will be inducted now, i think 250+ in total + service vehicles made from its chassis


**no one wants war ** Allah forbid any war in future

 

[nitesh]

Born-again Arjun raring for battlefield

Born-again Arjun raring for battlefield
Kartyk Venkatraman Posted: Mar 01, 2009 at 0521 hrs IST

Chandipur-on-sea(Orissa): The much-derided tank has been fitted with new features and has come out with flying colours during trials

At a firing point of the Defence Research & Development Organisation’s (DRDO) 114-year-old Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) — a strip of secluded beach in Chandipur — the Nakul tank with the MBT Arjun’s turret and the Russian T-72’s chassis readies to fire its 120-mm cannon to test target-grouping and ammunition. Several thundering rounds later, DRDO scientists are back in the lab to analyse. The result: satisfactory.

Envisioned as India’s first indigenous Main Battle Tank (MBT) in 1972 following the ‘71 Indo-Pak war, Arjun has been in the line of fire for under-performance from the Army over the past decade. Now, scientists at the proof-testing PXE in Chandipur and main developer Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) in Avadi, Tamil Nadu are upbeat about Arjun’s performance before it takes on the Russian T-90 in comparative trials this summer.

Maj Gen Anup Malhotra, director, PXE, said much of the “teething troubles” of the Arjun have been overcome. “Over the past year, we have been testing the barrel, recoil and breech of the Arjun’s firing mechanism, as well as the ammunition. Between 60-70 barrels have been tested here. The tests are satisfactory, and we will be sending the results to the CVRDE, which is developing the tank. If the Army has objected in the past on certain aspects, they are correct in doing so. If they want to evaluate, it is a good sign. Better now than in battle,” Malhotra said.

CVRDE associate director R Jayakumar said the only common feature between Nakul and the current version of the Arjun is the barrel. “The rest of the turret has been revamped, including the gun control and fire control. Also, as a proactive measure, we will incorporate 12 futuristic technology systems include automatic target tracking, defensive aids, laser warning, tank simulator systems and also automate target tracking,” Jayakumar told The Indian Express.

DRDO officials say the upcoming comparative trials would decide the operational role of the Arjun, such as “strike” and “shock-and-awe”. The T-90 weighs less than 50 tonnes, while the Arjun weighs 58.5 tonnes and is comparable to the American M1A1 Abrams (67 tons), British Challenger (65), German Leopard (68) and Israeli Merkava (67). “We prefer to compare apples with apples, not apples with oranges,” Jayakumar says.

Claiming to have overcome problems including engine trouble and overheating, the DRDO wants to bid for more orders for Arjun from the Army, and is expecting new requirements from the Army. For comparative trials, tentatively scheduled in May, the CVRDE will be sending a full squadron (20) of tanks.

The Army had said after the 2007 winter trials that the Arjun had “failed” in several parameters. Following trials in 2008 summer, the Army’s evaluation of the Arjun has changed, says Jayakumar. “The tanks covered 8,000 km and over 800 rounds were fired during the latest trials without any hitches.”

“It is a misconception that the Arjun has overshot its budget. Till November 1985, only Rs 15 crore were allocated for competence-building and technology. Based on the results, the project was sanctioned that year and an additional Rs 305 crore were allocated. In March 2000, we got the go-ahead to begin production and delivered 15 prototypes for evaluation,” Jayakumar says.

Malhotra adds initial order of 124 Arjuns should not be seen as a cap on acquisition. “The comparative trials would dictate the number of Arjun tanks acquired by the Army in the future.”

The Army continues to be guarded on the issue. “We’re neither categorically accepting or rejecting the Arjun MBT. Any comment will be made after the trials this summer,” said Group Captain R K Das, CPRO (MoD) Kolkata.

 

[zombie:-)]

lol arjun for shawkinaaw

 

[LCA]

What is this nakul tank ?

a version of arjun tank or some thing else.

 

[nitesh]

What is this nakul tank ?

a version of arjun tank or some thing else.

from the news item:

the Nakul tank with the MBT Arjun’s turret and the Russian T-72’s chassis readies to fire its 120-mm cannon to test target-grouping and ammunition. Several thundering rounds later, DRDO scientists are back in the lab to analyse. The result: satisfactory.

 

[fatman17]

i have not read the posts in this thread but it is very clear than Arjun does not have a future with the Indian Army (read IA thread) - that is why IA has opted to purchase 1,300 T-90S tanks with specified upgrades to keep this tank comparable to contemporary MBTs available world-wide. This has become a "image and integrity" issue with indian scientists of DRDO whereas the Indian Armoured Corps Officers are very clear in their message.
Move on India....

 

[nitesh]

i have not read the posts in this thread but it is very clear than Arjun does not have a future with the Indian Army (read IA thread) - that is why IA has opted to purchase 1,300 T-90S tanks with specified upgrades to keep this tank comparable to contemporary MBTs available world-wide. This has become a "image and integrity" issue with indian scientists of DRDO whereas the Indian Armoured Corps Officers are very clear in their message.
Move on India....

To an extent yes (regarding IA mechanized division officers saying) but they are not able to freeze the requirement for future tank from last 2 years . Also there are comparative trials about to happen which will decide about the final result.

 

[fatman17]

To an extent yes (regarding IA mechanized division officers saying) but they are not able to freeze the requirement for future tank from last 2 years . Also there are comparative trials about to happen which will decide about the final result.

pls dont mis-understand me, why flog a beaten horse!

i sometimes feel that the DRDO and to some extent the Indian Armed Forces want the "Perfect Weapons System" which just may not be possible, close enough would be just as good. there is a need to lower "benchmarks" to ensure that local conditions are met.

 

[nitesh]

pls dont mis-understand me, why flog a beaten horse!

i sometimes feel that the DRDO and to some extent the Indian Armed Forces want the "Perfect Weapons System" which just may not be possible, close enough would be just as good. there is a need to lower "benchmarks" to ensure that local conditions are met.

Yes sir you correct, there was a seminar organized last year to understand future MBT requirement most of the representatives said it is like trying to shoot a moving target .

 

[fatman17]

a 60 ton arjun would require completely new tank transporters which will be a additional cost on the army budget (we know India has lots of $$$). and what about "puls" and bridges in India. will they be able to withstand a 60 ton tank. just as a side-bar the US abrams "failed" in the desert conditions of our thar desert in 1987 which is similar to the western rajasthan desert.!

my final word on this subject - India and Indians should know better about their requirements than someone posting from across the border!

Good Luck!

 

[nitesh]

Sir most of the issues have been sorted out. Sarvatra bridges are developed specifically for arjun. Railways are capable of carrying arjun very much. Arjun ground pressure is lesser then T90. So it should be good in desert conditions. First there were issue regarding electronics not working properly in desert heat but that also is demonstrated.

Well I don't think that people are not aware of the requirements. The things are moving on in right direction only.

 

[adm_havemercy]

pls dont mis-understand me, why flog a beaten horse!

i sometimes feel that the DRDO and to some extent the Indian Armed Forces want the "Perfect Weapons System" which just may not be possible, close enough would be just as good. there is a need to lower "benchmarks" to ensure that local conditions are met.

you are exactly right sir .
i dont understand the changing requirements of indian army and air force .
does that also happen in pakistan .