Arjun

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For other uses, see Arjun (disambiguation).

Arjun is a Main Battle Tank developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development) for the Indian Army. It is named for Arjuna, one of the heroes of the Hindu Mahabharata.

The development cycle of the Arjun MBT has been plagued with multiple cycles of requirements analysis and specification changes but is expected by the Indian Government to be among the best tanks in the world . The Indian Army has stated that it is willing to accept the Arjun provided that its production examples, from the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadhi, India, meet the requisite quality criteria. HVF has been used to make T-72's and Vickers Medium tanks in the past, and the Arjun has been a significant challenge for them. While critics allege that the Arjun's future is still uncertain, the Indian Army has committed itself to a first batch of 124 tanks. The Director of CVRDE, DRDO's tank design laboratory, the designers of the Arjun, has recently noted that once production is stabilized to the Indian Army's satisfaction, the Arjun induction will be a "numbers game", implying the possibility of follow-on batches.

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Specifications

The Arjun (Mk I) was developed after three decades of identifying requirements, design, evaluation, redesign process involving the DRDO and the Indian Army. Weighing in at 58.5 tons, it is significantly heavier than the Soviet-era T-series tanks used presently by the Indian Army, and requires changes to the army's logistics establishment. This along with concerns about the imported content and the required changes in production facilities has slowed adoption by the Indian Army.

Armed with a 120 mm rifled gun, it is capable of firing FSAPDS (Kinetic Energy) rounds, HE, HEAT, High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) rounds and the Israeli semi-active Laser guided LAHAT missile. The machine guns are 12.7 mm for anti-aircraft use and a 7.62 mm for engaging infantry. A special 120 mm anti-helicopter prefragmented round is also under development. This shell is prefragmented and is provided with a proximity fuse. Thus the large number of high energy fragments are delivered in the vicinity of the target and destruction of target is ensured.

The Fire Control System is stabilised on two axes, and with an extremely high hit probability (design criteria call for a greater than 90% Pk, ie probability of kill) replaces an earlier one, which had problems due to the extreme conditions during tests. The combined day sight from Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Thermal imager (formerly from Sagem, now reported to be from El-Op) is the gunner's primary sight. The commander's own stabilised panoramic sight, allows him to engage targets and or hand them over to the gunner. This MBT is supplied by an auxiliary power unit to operate weapon systems in silent watch mode.

The tank incorporates GPS based navigation systems, sophisticated frequency hopping radio's. The state-of-the-art Battlefield Management System, developed by DRDO allows it to network with other fighting units. It is protected by a Laser warning system and smoke launchers for counter measures. To further enhance combat survivability, the tank has an auto-fire detection & suppression system. Ammunition is also stowed in watertight containers to reduce the risk of fire.

Arjun has been designed with Western design practices in mind, especially reflected in its crew protection features. With a crew of four, it incorporates heavy composite armour and significant crew protection features, including blow off panels, integrated fire protection and ammunition separated from the crew. It also has nuclear, biological and chemical protection systems. Further, Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) panels can be added. The turret and glacis are heavily armoured and use "Kanchan" composite armour. The turret has been designed with the ergonomics of Indian Army troops in mind. The typical crew consists of a Gunner, Commander, Loader and Driver.

The engine and transmission are provided by MTU and Renk respectively. The engine generates 1,400 hp and is integrated with an indian turbocharger and gearbox. A local transmission is under trials and will ultimately replace the Renk supplied unit. The tracks which were being supplied by Diehl are now being manufactured by L & T, an Indian company. The cooling pack has been designed for desert operations. The Arjun has a lower ground pressure than the lighter T-72, due to its design.

The Arjun with its remarkable capability to network with other tanks in a search and engage operation is often called as the "Wolfpack/Hunters Network", wherein at least 4-5 Arjun Tanks can decipher the opponents moves and eradicate it in a chase or halt action. This allows minimum number of tanks to engage a vast hostile area. While co-ordinating their own moves they can take on simultaneous targets without prioritising independent targets over prime targets. This feature has improved Arjuns ability to survive and negotiate an urban warfare situation.

The Indian Army has ordered 124 Arjuns and is gearing to group them in a dedicated unit along with the prior prototypes and test tanks, all of which are now deemed operational. Thus the first fifteen tanks of the 124 have already been inducted into service. The Indian Army recently (2004-08-07) inducted the first five tanks from the production lines at Avadi. The planned production rate is at thirty tanks per year, with the Army requesting fifty per year. As more Arjuns get inducted, it is feasible that the Indian Army could order many more tanks.

The Arjun has faced several hurdles in its design and development. It has evolved from the originally requested 40-ton tank armed with a 105 mm gun to the present day requirements, a 58.5-ton 120 mm gun heavy tank. Other than the changing requirements, problems with engine and the Fire Control systems, especially under intense conditions in the Indian desert has caused some challenging situations. Through the process, India has acquired its own armaments complex and the ability to make modern state-of-the-art armoured vehicles.

A 155 mm self-propelled howitzer variant of the Arjun (labelled 'Bhim') has been prototyped by fitting the South African Denel T6 turret, which comes with the G5 howitzer to the Arjun chassis.

Image:Arjunmk1.jpg

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