New Delhi: In a significant stride for the indigenous defense sector, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has commenced internal trials for the lightweight tank ‘Zorawar’. Designed for enhanced mobility and maneuverability, these tanks are poised to bolster defense capabilities in high-altitude regions, notably the Ladakh sector.
DRDO plans to transfer the project to the Army for further trials within the next four months, with private player Larsen & Toubro (L&T) also contributing to the initiative.
Sources indicate that internal trials for the tank are underway, with completion expected by late March or mid-April, paving the way for subsequent user trials with the Army. This development is part of a 59-tank order placed with DRDO and its private sector partner, aligning with the approved project by the Defence Acquisition Council to counter the deployment of Chinese light tanks in the Ladakh sector.
Under the Make in India initiative, DRDO collaborates with L&T to construct a 25-tonne light tank tailored for swift movement in high mountainous terrain. An active protection system, designed to shield combat vehicles from anti-tank guided missiles and projectiles, is a crucial feature in development.
The Army’s vision includes making the light tank amphibious, facilitating deployment in riverine regions such as the Pangong Tso Lake in eastern Ladakh, where Indian forces have encountered Chinese light tanks.
