Developmental trials of the main battle tank (MBT) Arjun mark II has begun at the Pokhran field firing range here and will continue through the next month. A successful trial would give the green signal for building of 124 Arjun mark II at the DRDO's heavy vehicles factory in Avadi. The new version will supplement the 124 Arjun mark I already in service.
The ongoing trials, which started on Friday, will mainly focus on 19 parameters, particularly on those features which came under heavy criticism in its earlier version, DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said.
The Army has pressed 124 Arjun mark I into service but has said follow-on order will be conditional on 93 improvements, including 19 major modifications, defence spokesperson Col S D Goswami said.
Among the crucial improvement which will be tested during the trial is the tank commander's thermal imaging (TI) night sight, which replaces the day only sight in the earlier version.
With this addition, Arjun can also operate during night in the "hunter-killer" mode - the commander as the hunter and the gunner as killer. The commander scans the battlefield through his new TI sight, spots the targets and electronically allocated them to the gunner to destroy, while he returns to hunting for more targets even on a pitch-dark night.
Testing of the tank's missile firing capability from its main gun will also be done during the trials. A laser warning counter measure system has been integrated into the main gun. The system's laser beam will intercept incoming missiles, which allow just 10-15 seconds of reaction time. But within milliseconds, the system automatically launches smoke grenades, creating a smokescreen around the tank that leaves the missile operator without a target to aim .
"The major upgrades would be missile-firing capability against long-range targets, panoramic sight with night vision to engage targets effectively at night, containerisation of the ammunition, enhanced main weapon penetration, additional ammunition types, explosive reactive armour, advanced air-defence gun to engage helicopters, a mine plough, an advanced land navigation system and a warning system which can fire smoke grenades to confuse laser guidance," Goswami said.
Other upgrades included an enhanced auxiliary power unit providing 8.5 KW (from 4.5 KW) and an improved gun barrel, changes in the commander's panoramic sight with eye safe LRF, night vision capability including for driver, digital control harness, new final drive, track and sprocket, he added.
The earlier version, Arjun mark 1, which is also developed by DRDO came under a lot of fire due to delays in the development. Later it proved its mettle when it was pitted against the latest the country's T-90 tanks.
An Arjun tank is operated by a four-member crew comprising commander-cum-navigator, gunner, loader and driver.
"Earlier, the Army criticised Arjun for its huge weight. But, after seeing its cross-country performance, even compared with a lighter 40-tonne tank like the T-90, the Army authorities realised that the Arjun moves like a 'Ferrari'. Even at 65-66 tonnes, it will beat any MBT in the desert," said a DRDO official.
Arjun is endorsed by Israel Military Industries (IMI), which did a "third-party evaluation" of the tank. Israeli experts are of the opinion that Arjun would outrun any competition.
The Army raised its maiden armoured regiment equipped with Arjun tanks in May 2009, more than 35 years after the project was conceived. The Army has so far placed an order for 248 tanks, each costing Rs16.8 crore. Arjun was earlier plagued with problems concerning its fire control system, suspension and poor mobility due to its weight.
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