The light amphibious tank Zorawar was developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro.
The combat vehicle is primarily designed to counter Chinese threats in disputed high-altitude areas where the Chinese army has deployed its own light tanks, Type 15, also known as ZTQ-15.
+ Click here to watch the Zorawar video
Zorawar was developed and ready for testing in a record time of about two years. The development of the machine began in 2022. This high development rate is explained by the large volume of integrated ready-made solutions.
Weighing 25 tons and with the ability to cross water obstacles on its own, this light tank can climb steep mountain slopes and cross rivers and other bodies of water much more easily than the heavy tanks T-72 and T-90 in service with the Indian army.
The tank is equipped with a Cockerill 3000 combat module with a 105 mm cannon from the Belgian multinational company John Cockerill.
The combat vehicle’s powerplant is represented by a Cummins diesel engine with a capacity of 1000 hp. At 40 hp/ton, this provides the machine with high maneuverability and mobility.
In January this year, the Indian edition of ANI News reported the start of factory tests of the prototype of this tank. After the completion of this phase, the combat vehicle was handed over to the Indian army for departmental tests.
The Indian army placed an initial order for 59 Zorawar tanks and plans to buy at least 295 more of these combat vehicles. The tank is expected to enter service by 2027.
The Indian army has been looking for a light tank since 2009, when two new divisions were formed in the Himalayas. This is due to the operational problems of using main battle tanks in the mountains.
+ Click here to watch the video of the Chinese light tank ZTQ-15
In mountainous terrain, where the Chinese ZTQ-15 light tanks have traveled long routes without problems, the Indian armored forces have encountered difficulties moving their T-72M through passes at altitudes of 5,000 meters above sea level.
Photo and video: Twitter @VivekSi85847001. Source: mil.in.ua. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.