Arjun Mk2 Will use Leclerc and Merkava Components

  

The Arjun Mk2 main battle tank (MBT) — currently under development since mid-2007, will be more expensive and have a higher imported content than its predecessor, the Arjun Mk1. But in terms of mobility, protection and firepower, the Mk2 variant will come closest to what Indian Army HQ wants: an MBT with highly enhanced crew protection and maximum survivability in high-intensity, fire-saturated combat environments. To achieve this, the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Avadi-based Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) has roped in both Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Elbit Systems of Israel, with the former being responsible for improving the existing Arjun Mk1’s design plus mobility and fuel consumption, redesigning and modifying the various components of the MBT’s hull and turret, and providing consultancy for improving production-line processes. Elbit Systems, on the other hand, will enhance the MBT’s firepower and its accuracy, and provide survivability systems and air-conditioning hardware. The existing Arjun Mk1 MBT, which was formally inducted into the Army’s 75 Armoured Regiment on March 12, comes powered by a MTU 838Ka-501 diesel engine (rated at 1,400hp) coupled to a RENK RK-304A transmission, and can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/hr (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). A total of 124 Mk1 variants are on order, and will be followed by 124 Mk2 variants, which were ordered by Army HQ on May 17 last year. The Arjun Mk2 will incorporate a total of 93 upgrades, including 13 major improvements. Rollout of the first prototype will take place by this June, and by 2013, the first 30 production-standard Arjun Mk2s will roll out from the Avadi-based, ministry of defence-owned Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF).

DRDO Says Development of Improved Indian Arjun Complete

India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) claims that it has completed upgrades on the Arjun tank, replacing existing German engines and transmission systems with homemade systems.

The Mark-II Arjun will incorporate up to 90 percent of indigenous content, compared with 58 percent in the current model, a DRDO scientist said, and should be ready for induction by 2014.

The Mark-II also will feature superior missile-firing capabilities, the scientist added.

 Conceived in 1973, the Arjun tank was behind schedule by more than 15 years, resulting in the Indian Army choosing the Russian T-90 tank as its main battle tank. The Arjun had to go through a series of trials and retrials before the Army announced the tank fit for duty. Last year, the Arjun Mark-I had to be put on comparative trials against the Russian T-90, after which the Indian Army finally concluded that the Arjun tank performed to expectations.

 

Earlier, the Arjun faced problems concerning its fire control system and suspension, and its weight-restricted mobility.

Last year, the Indian Army ordered an additional 124 tanks, bringing the total to 248.

Advanced Version of MBT Arjun Mark-II To Undergo Serial Production in 2014

After more than 90 upgrades, an advanced variant of the indigenous Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun will undergo serial production in 2014.
The tank, Arjun Mark-II, will be equipped with an indigenous engine a year after the start of its serial production to replace its German power plant, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials told PTI.
"The advanced Arjun will be equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour and missile-firing capability from its main gun and better night-vision capabilities," they said.

The officials said that the gear box of the tank too would be upgraded to improve its performance.

Meanwhile, the DRDO has decided to go ahead with the first phase of the tank''s trial in June this year. "The user-Indian Army- would be involved in the trial from the phase one itself. The second phase would take place sometime early next year," said the officials.

 
124 Arjun Mark-I tanks, comprising two regiments, have already been inducted into the Army after being manufactured in Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi. The regiments are based in the western sector.

DRDO Says Arjun MkII Version Tanks Are Ready For Trials

Within a year of the government approving a project for an upgraded indigenous main battle tank (MBT), India's defence research agency has readied a Mark II version that will undergo summer and winter trials this year.

The defence ministry had last May given its nod to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop the Arjun MkII MBT which would have enhanced features over the first lot of 124 tanks that have been delivered to the army over the last two years.

'The Arjun MkII tanks will go for summer trials this year and later for winter trials at the end of 2011,' a defence ministry official said here Monday.

The army is already operating two regiments of Arjun tanks in the western sector and has placed an order for an additional 124 - two regiments - of the 58-tonne tanks from the Avadi-based manufacturer, Heavy Vehicles Factory.

The army gained confidence in operating the Arjun tanks, despite the initial hesitation, after the first two regiments were pitted against the Russian-built T-90 MBTs early last year in comparative trials in the desert terrain.

The Arjuns, army officers said, had outsmarted the T-90s in all the parameters set for the trials and had prompted the army top brass to admit that the tank was one of the best they had operated.

The Arjun MkII will have about a dozen changes from the first lot, being armed with missile firing capability through a laser homing device.

Though the missile system had been tested on the MkI version of the tank about five years ago, it did not form part of the final design of the initial 124 delivered to the army, and nor will it be mounted on the second lot of 124, ministry officials said.

The system, they said, would have a range of about eight kms, within which it could destroy enemy tanks after homing on to the target using a laser.

Other modifications include better explosive-reactive armour for the tank to protect it from enemy missiles and rockets, improving the sighting facility to provide it a wider view of the battlefield, including night vision capability, and a better communication system.

Arjun Mk-2

Second generation of Arjun Mk-2 has been cleared recently by theMinistry of Defence and funding allocated , while the Army has orderedmore 124 Arjun Mk-1 to keep the production line in Avadi busy till theArjun Mk-2 will start rolling out from 2013-14 onwards .

  DRDO ratherthan starting all over again the Arjun MK-2 will have the same designof Arjun MK-1, but major changes are planned for the new generationvariant of Arjun Tank to keep up with the new technological changeswhich are been incorporated in the MBT’s world over .
Arjun MK-2 will have Battle Field Management System (BFMS) which willenable the tank to get feed from UAV‘s and Helicopters, which thenenable the Arjun mk-2 tank crew much aware of their surroundings andbetter understanding of the battle zone, this will lead to improvementin coordinating with other Friendly tanks in the zone and also avoidFriendly kills, it will also give information regarding enemy tankmovement along with their troops and help navigate terrain in thebattle zone.
Self-diagnostic system (SDS) will also be added to Arjun Mk-2 which islike a health monitoring system. it will not only tell the tank crew ifit is having any problem but also point out the trouble area , it isalso important when Tank has taken multiple hits from differentposition and from different ammunition after a self-diagnose Tank crewwill know exact damage inflicted on the Tank .

Arjun Mk-2 will get a new efficient 1500bhp engine which has been indevelopment by DRDO in India its self, they are reports that a IndianPrivate industry is also working with DRDO on the engine development,currently Arjun MK-1 is powered by German supplied 1400bhp engine whichis quite old in design and technical parameters but still a powerfuland respected engine in the world.

NERA (non-explosive reactive armor) will be added to Arjun Mk-2 thiswill give the tank additional protection against anti-tank munitions,unlike ERA, NERA will enable tank to take multiple hits anti-tankmunitions, but also increase the weight of Arjun MK-2 to 60 tons fromits current weight (Arjun MK-1) of 58 tons.

It is much likely that Arjun Mk-2 will also spot Air-conditioningsystem for the crew, which will be powered from an APU which will drawits power from the Main engine of the Tank; this will enable the tankcrew to operate in higher temperature of desert heat without anydiscomfort to the tank crew, Arjun MK-1 already has hardenedelectronics that function perfectly even in the Rajasthan summerwithout requiring any Air-conditioning system.

More changes will take place in Arjun Mk-2, above mentioned are mostly likely changes which will take place in the new variant.

DRDO designing advanced version of Arjun MBTs for Indian Army

NEW DELHI (PTI): After receivingorders for 124 more Arjun main battle tanks, the DRDO has decided tosupply an advanced version of the weapon system to meet therequirements of the Army.

“We will have the modifications (onArjuns) that the Army is looking for,” Defence Research and DevelopmentOrganisation chief V K Saraswat said here Thursday.

He was askedif the DRDO had any plans of delivering a more advanced version ofArjun to the Army as part of the next order. The DRDO chief was talkingto reporters on the sidelines of a function to mark the golden jubileeof the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS).


Saraswatsaid that the DRDO had already started working on the mark II versionof the tank, which will incorporate a number of modifications that havebeen sought by the Army.

“We have to make certain modificationsin the tank, which we call the Arjun mark II version. Developmentprocess on mark II is already in progress and our scientists and theArmy are working together,” Saraswat said.

The DRDO chief saidthe decision by the Army to place orders for 124 more Arjuns willensure that the assembly line of the tanks is “engaged”.

Armyhas till date placed orders for 248 Arjun tanks of which 124 havealready been delivered to it. The order for additional 124 tanks wasplaced after the comparative trials in March and April 2010.

Thecomparative trials between the Arjun and the Russian T-90 were carriedout to decide the future of the tank in the Army, during which theindigenous tanks reportedly performed satisfactorily.

The DRDOwants the Army to place orders for at least 500 Arjuns to recover itsinvestments before starting work on the futuristic main battle tank forthe service.

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