‘A’ is for Aatmanirbhar
The Arjun Mk.1A ordered
Although in military history, the French had first begun working on armoured fighting vehicles, it was the British who actually built what was called a ‘tank’. When this debuted on the battlefield of Flers-Courcelette in World War I, it shocked the Germans. Tanks have thereafter dominated the battlefield through World War II, the Korean War, the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan Wars, the Six Day War of 1967 and Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Iraq-Iran War, the Gulf War and other battles.
Since independence in 1947, the Indian Army has operated British, French and Soviet-origin tanks. After the 1971 war, the Government of India took a decision to develop an indigenous main battle tank. India had already been producing UK-designed Vijayanta tanks at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi which was a customised variant of the Vickers Mk.1A. For the next generation of MBTs, an entirely in-house design was then envisaged to meet the Army’s requirements. This was to be a contemporary of the German Leopard 2, American M1 Abrams and British Challenger 1 main battle tanks as also the Russian T-90s which were being inducted by their respective armies during the 1980-90s.
However, the Indian MBT programme faced several hurdles but the first significant success was achieved by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory which had developed the Kanchan armour, an advanced composite armour equivalent of Burlington armour (a variant of Chobham armour) developed by Army Research Laboratory, UK. Like the Chobham, Kanchan too saw new variants over the decades. Meanwhile, the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) developed an indigenous gun, firstly a 105 mm rifled-gun but later the bigger and powerful 120 mm rifled-gun. However, the failure to develop an indigenous engine led to procurement of MTU engines to power the tank, called the Arjun. Although the prototypes were ready by the late 80s, it was not until 2010 when, after extensive trials, the Indian Army placed an initial order, the 43rd Armoured Regiment receiving the first Arjun tanks in limited numbers in the late 90s. It was in 2012 when an improved variant, the Arjun Mk.2 was conceived.
The Arjun Mk.2 has since been renamed as the ‘Mk.1A’, and after extensive trials it was ‘cleared’ for induction, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over the first Arjun Mk.1A to the Indian Army at Chennai on 14 February 2021. According to reports, the Mk.1A has 54.3 per cent indigenous content and features 93 improvements over its predecessor.
Protection, fire power, mobility
The Arjun Mk.1A has an improved Kanchan armour and is covered with layers of indigenously developed Explosive Reactive Armour to protect the platform against HEAT rounds and anti-tank guided missiles. It has a containerised ammunition bin with individual shutter (CABIS), which an effective protection against burning ammunition stored in the ready round bin. CABIS protects by venting the gas out by blow-off panels from roof of the turret. The Mk.1A has a roof-mounted driver’s seat to protect him from shocks. Its chemical sensor is active in the event of chemical warfare, the tank also equipped with a laser warning and counter measure system with activation of smoke grenades. For operations in dangerous mine fields, the Mk.1A is equipped with a track width mine plough (TWMP).
The Arjun Mk.1A is equipped with an indigenously-developed 120 mm rifled gun which can fire several advanced ammunition including Fin Stabilised Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS), High Explosive Squash Head (HESH), Thermo-Baric (TB) and Penetration Cum Blast (PCB) rounds, apart from indigenous cannon launched guided missile (CLGM). It has new Remote Controlled Weapon Station (NSV 12.7 mm) for engaging both land and aerial targets. Besides there is a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun, its hatch closed firing capability being useful during close quarter urban engagements. The Mk.1A has highly integrated optics for better battlefield awareness, an improved gunner›s main sight integrated with automatic target tracking for efficiently targeting the enemy. A computer controlled integrated fire control system incorporating day-cum-night stabilised sighting system, ensures very high first round hit probability and reduced reaction time. The stabilisation system for the main armament is slaved to the sighting equipment in elevation and azimuth, with high and accurate laying speed and allowing fire on the move.
It is claimed that the rifled 120 mm gun together with the newly developed super velocity ammunition, can defeat any contemporary armour. The electro slag refined gun steel tube is auto-frettaged to withstand higher gas pressures. A thermal jacket prevents irregular temperature distribution onto the tube due to weather influences. The Arjun Mk.1A also has an improved commander’s panoramic sight (Mk.II) which is integrated with the thermal imager. Be it night, fog or any kind of difficult weather conditions, the commander can effectively observe the battlefield, the laser range finder and panoramic sight enabling advanced hunter killer capability. It has an Advanced Land Navigation System as well as is equipped with INS or GPS or both. The Arjun Mk.1A has an advanced running gear system as well as hydro-pneumatic suspension which given excellent mobility. The tank is powered by a MTU-1400 hp liquid-cooled turbocharged diesel engine.
However, a major disadvantage of the Arjun Mk.1A, remains its very heavy weight, being a 68.5 tonne behemoth which decreases the geographical sphere where it can be deployed and the army has ordered 118 Arjun Mk.1As to equip only two regiments. The Arjun Mk.1/Mk.1A could conceivably best be deployed in the western desert where its advantages would be obvious.