As the stand-off persists at the border in Ladakh and increased threat from China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) likely to remain in the “foreseeable future,” the Indian Army has initiated Project Zorawar to deploy indigenously built light tanks in high altitude areas.
The induction of tanks will enable the Indian forces to counter any threat posed by the Chinese tanks deployed along the LAC in Ladakh and some other regions, sources said here on Friday.
The light tanks can be airlifted to the inaccessible areas and enable the local commanders to move fast and provide agility in operations.
During the ongoing stand-off, the Chinese last year had inducted light tanks at various forward locations along the LAC, especially in the Ladakh region.
Countering the move, India deployed its T-90 and T-72 tanks. The T-90 weighs about 46 tons and the T-72 about 45 tons.
Explaining the need for light tanks, sources said armoured columns add muscle to readiness and the army is keen to have an edge over China in both offensive and defensive terms, they said.
The Army is now awaiting clearance from the Government and acceptance of necessity (AON) for manufacturing these tanks weighing about 25 tons.
The proposal will be put for nod in September, they said.
Once okayed, the trials of the tanks after manufacturing will commence within three years, they said.
The Government in March this year had accorded in-principle approval for the indigenous design and development of light tanks for mountain warfare.
The Army wants a light tank with a maximum weight of 25 tons with the same firepower as its regular tanks and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled systems, integration of tactical surveillance drones to provide a high degree of situational awareness and loitering munition, along with an active protection system. The tanks will also have protection shield to counter anti-tank guided missiles.
Moreover, the tanks will be amphibious to negotiate riverine terrain, including the Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh. The lake saw the first stand-off in May 2020 triggering tension along several other friction points in the region between India and China.
As regards the title of the project, sources said it was named after Zorawar Singh Kahluria, a military general who served under Jammu’s Raja Gulab Singh - known as the “conquerer of Ladakh”.
A lightweight agile platform with a high power-to-weight ratio with substantial firepower, protection, surveillance, and communication capabilities is essential to provide the Army the versatility to execute operations in varying terrain against diverse threats and equipment profiles of adversaries, sources said.
The decision to manufacture light tanks within the country was also taken after the ongoing Ukraine conflict impacted the supply chain of defence related equipment.