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Arjun MBT Push by Parrikar?
MBT Arjun Mark II
MBT Arjun Mark II
After Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) blamed the Indian Army for delaying the induction of Arjun tanks developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and MOD playing second fiddle to Indian armies delay tactics .
According to sources, Defence Minister Parrikar has asked Indian Army why delays tactics have implemented by them . Parrikar likely also will have meeting with directors of Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) who have developed Arjun tank soon to look into this whole delays effecting the Project.
Indian army has inducted only 124 Arjun MK-1 tanks and had later asked for Arjun Mk-2 which is substantially improved and more capable than the Arjun Mk-1 but it needed 19 major modifications leading to further delays . Three Phases of user trials have been completed but homemade Arjun Mk-2 tank suffered a major setback, when critical Israeli anti-tank missile Lahat failed to meet the army’s requirements.
DRDO's CLGM
DRDO now is working on Indigenous tube-launched anti-tank missile which can be fired from main barrel of the tank further delaying Project . Arjun MK-2 which is 5 tonnes heaver then MK-1 still needs to clear two more phases of user trials before it can enter Production . Parrikar likely will push for another another round of orders for MK-2 after user trials which are scheduled for this summer ,which will double the current requirement from 124 tanks .
DRDO in past have told that orders above 500 tanks will bring the cost down and will make Arjun project financial viable , since Indian Army still needs more then 1500 new tanks to replace older T-72 and T-55 tanks from its fleet .While Indian army has been inducting Russian T-90 Main battle tanks , CAG has questioned why Indian Army is OK with short comings of T-90 tanks but refuses to provide similar concessions to Arjun Tanks indicating Bias benchmark which has been used by Indian army for both tanks .
Source:- Arjun MBT Push by Parrikar ? | idrw.org
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