Arjun Main Battle Tank
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Arjun
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/arjun.htm
At the end of the 1971 war, the Indian army realized the
limitations of their tank fleet in the harsh desert conditions of
Rajasthan, a northwestern Indian state bordering Pakistan, so they
initiated their own MBT design. The first Arjun (named after a
mythical Hindu warrior prince) concept was laid out in 1974 by the
Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of
the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Based on
1971 battlefield experiences, the Arjun would have a
locally-designed, rifled 120mm main gun, a German, MTU-based diesel
powerplant (The Indians consider turbine engines fuel guzzlers),
and a computerized fire control system with a laser
rangefinder.
One of the early Arjun prototypes was unveiled in April 1985, with
a number of prototypes undergoing technical testing while desert
trials were scheduled for that summer. At the time, it was reported
to have a 120mm smooth-bore main gun and would use a 1400-hp
MTU-based diesel until an indigenous one was ready. Weight would be
about 50 tons, and the tank would cost about $1.6 million (U.S.).
Development costs rose about 500 percent throughout the 80s, and
through a development process plagued with delays, the end product
visually resembles the German Leopard II, however, unlike the
German vehicle, its future remains in doubt.
As of mid-2000 India planned to acquire T-90 tanks, based on field
trials which had already been completed. Although orders had been
placed for the supply of 124 Arjun tanks through the Defence
Research Development Organisation, it would be difficult to predict
when these orders would be fufilled. Until such time, T-90 tanks
would serve to counter Pakistan's T-85 tanks.
Pakistans announcment in 1995 of a deal with Ukraine to purchase
T-84s caused a flurry of activity in the Indian tank development
community. And on 9 January 1996, the Arjun was formally unveiled
and cleared for mass production. Considered comparable to the M1A2
Abrams, Leopard 2, and Leclerc, the 59-ton "15th Variant" can
achieve a maximum speed of 70 kph (55 mph) and cross-country speed
of 40 kph with its 1400-hp powerplant. The 1,610-liter fuel tank
allows for a cruising range of 200 km (120 miles). To ensure crew
survivability, production versions will have the
indigenously-researched and developed Kanchan composite armor, an
automatic fire detection and suppression system, and an NBC
protection system designed and built by the Bhabha Atomic Research
Center.
The rifled 120mm gun, which includes a muzzle reference system, is
made of ESR steel and is fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume
extractor. All main gun rounds use a semi-combustible cartridge
case with increased energy propellant for higher muzzle velocity
and greater penetration characteristics. In addition to the usual
suite of rounds, an anti-helicopter round is under development as
well. The Arjuns fire control system includes a laser rangefinder,
ballistic computer, thermal imaging night sight, stabilized
panoramic sight for the tank commander, and a secondary telescopic
sight. The LRF (integral to the gunners sight) has a range of
nearly 10 km and a thermal imager (which can see at around 5.5
km, recognize a target at 3.1 km and identify targets at 2.5 km).
The Arjun fire control systems ability to fire on the move during
the night is a major step forward for Indian armored forces.
The Chassis and Automative System of MBT Arjun comprises main
chassis, power pack (1400 HP engine coupled to hydromech
transmission), running gear with hydropneumatic suspension,
integrated fuel system, advanced electrical system and other
dedicated special systems like integrated fire detection and
suppression system. The chassis is fabricated from rolled
homogenous armour plate using advanced welding technique. Frontal
armour is of Kanchan composite sandwitched between armour plates.
This fully integrated Arjun chassis and Automative System having
smooth riding characteristics can be used as a mobile platform for
any advanced weapon system. An extremely effective hydropneumatic
suspension system has been developed for MBT Arjun. The suspension
is externally mounted and provides vehicle springing and damping.
It consists of one bogey wheel pair for each suspension station.
Gaseous medium in the hydropneumatic suspension is for all terrain
maneuverability for exploiting the power available. Casing and hub
of the hydropneumatic suspension are sealed for preventing dust
ingression and water seepage into the casing during operation in
marshy area or shallow/medium fording. The MBT Arjun is fitted with
double-pin steel track with detachable rubber pads. It is made out
of steel casting having two bores for insertion of rubberised pins.
It is an integral piece incorporating guide horns and has got a
provision for insertion of detachable pads. The end connectors are
induction-hardened in the area which comes in contact with the
sprocket teeth to prevent wear.
The integrated fire and explosion suppression system developed for
MBT Arjun is based on state-of-the-art technology. The indigenous
development of this system is considered to be a breakthrough in
the field of fire protection engineering. It is capable of
suppressing hydrocarbon fuel fire/explosion resulting from an enemy
hit on the tank or due to any malfunctioning of the engine,
transmission or any electrical short circuiting. The system is
based on infra-red detectors for the detection of fire/explosion in
the crew compartment of the battle tank and a continuous type of
linear thermal detector popularly known as fire-wire for the engine
compartment. Halon-1301 has been employed as a fire extinguishing
medium. The system is capable of detection and suppression of
hydrocarbon fuel fire/explosion in the crew compartment within 200
milliseconds and in the engine compartment within 15 s thereby
enhancing the chances of survivability of the crew and battle
effectiveness of the tank.
Further improvements were deemed necessary even after the Arjun
design profile was accepted again in July 1996. On 27 August 1996,
the Defense Production and Supplies Secretary ordered 15
pre-production tanks from the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi (at
which point, estimates placed the project cost at $112 million). As
of mid-1997 the list of faults after 20 years of development was
not encouraging. In addition to numerous technical modifications to
its fire and gun control systems, the fire control system in
particular has been found unable to perform in temperatures above
42 degrees Celsius (108° F). The DRDO has been considering
scrapping the current Arjun fire control system in favor of
whatever is accepted for the T-72M1 upgrade program. Defects
noticed during the user trials of the Arjun Mk.1 MBT, including
over-heating of the engine in Rajasthan desert areas, had
supposedly been by and large overcome while other complaints were
being addressed.
The first 120 tanks to be built would cost $4.2 million each, while
other cost estimates places the figure at $5.6 million each per
tank by 2001, given a purchase of 124 tanks to equip two regiments.
Production of the first batch of tanks might take more than the
planned five years, given the capacity at the Avadi factory.
Planned Arjun variants include mobile assault guns, an observation
post vehicle, an air defense (gun or missile) version, a recovery
vehicle, an engineer vehicle, and bridgelayers. New bridgelayers
and recovery vehicles were necessary, given the Arjuns substantial
weight increase over the T-72M1 series.
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