₹7,523-cr. order for Arjun Mk-1A tanks

What is the News?

The Ministry of Defence(MoD) has placed an order with Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Chennai for the supply of 118 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army.

What is Arjun Mk-1A?

The development of Arjun Tank was started by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the late 1980s.

The Mark 1-A is a new variant of Arjun main battle tank. The work on this variant began in 2010 and the tank was fielded for trials in 2012.

Arjun Mk-1A is designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) along with the other laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

What are the key features of Arjun Mk-1A?

Firstly, Arjun Mk-1A is designed to enhance firepower, mobility and survivability. It can take on the enemy during day & night conditions. Further, the new features include all-terrain mobility and manoeuvrability in different modes of operation, better target acquisition and precision firing with a 360° view.

It is also equipped with a massive 120 mm rifled gun and robust protective armour named ‘Kanchan’. Thus making it the most potent armoured system in the inventory of the army. For these features, it has been categorised as the “hunter-killers”.

Secondly, It has 54.3% indigenous content, against the 41% in the earlier model.

Thirdly, the new variant has added some comfort features for the four-member crew who operate in tough conditions when deployed and has a better transmission system. 

Lastly, some of the features also prepare the tank better for network-centric warfare — or effective use of information technology and computer networking in the battlefield.

Source: This post is based on the following article

• “₹7,523-cr. order for Arjun Mk-1A tanks” published in The Hindu on 24th September 2021.
• “MoD places supply order for 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mk-1A for Indian Army” published in TOI on 23rd September 2021.
• ”Explained: What’s new in Arjun Mark-1A, and why its acquisition is significant” published in Indian Express on 25th September 2021.