India presents a light tank intended for use near its China border

This month, India showcased a prototype Zorawar light tank as part of their defense strategy to find more agile armored battle vehicles appropriate for the rugged terrain along their border with China, where unrest started in the middle of 2020.

In April 2021, Delhi issued a request for information regarding new light tanks. The speed at which an armored vehicle prototype is being produced in India is unprecedented. This remarkable achievement is the result of a public-private partnership between the state-run Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

The launch of the Zorawar took place at the L&T facility in Hajira, Gujarat. Despite DRDO Chief Samir V. Kamath stating that the Zorawar would not be available until 2027, the Indian Army has already placed an order for fifty-nine tanks. It's worth noting that Indian defense acquisitions are often subject to delays, even in the face of such forecasts. When asked about their level of confidence in the schedule, both DRDO and L&T refrained from providing an immediate response.

It's uncertain which engine type—the MTU 8V199 TE21 or the Cummins VTA903E-series—will be used in the production model. Because the 105mm main cannon has an autoloader, a crew of three is all that is needed. Additionally, there is a 12.7mm remote weapon station located atop the turret and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. Two anti-tank missiles are also carried atop the turret. The vehicle is amphibious, as indicated by side-mounted sponsons, and it travels on composite rubber treads. It looks like it will incorporate loitering munitions and drones.

Because the Zorawar is far lighter than the Indian Army's current tanks, it is better adapted to confront the People's Liberation Army's 36-ton Type 15 tanks in hilly terrain. The sanctioning of the military project in Delhi in December 2022 said that 315 light tanks would be needed.