India Plans to Cap Arjun Tank Production

India Plans to Cap Arjun Tank Production 16 July, 2008: India’s indigenous Arjun tank project began in 1974, and originally aimed to replace the Russian T-54 and T-72 tanks which made up the bulk of that country’s armored firepower. As has often been the case in India, its DRDO government weapons development agency sought an entirely made in India solution, even though this would require major advances on a number of fronts for Indian industry. As has often been the case in India, the result was a long and checkered history filled with development delays, performance issues, mid-project specifications changes by India’s military, and the eventual purchase of both foreign substitutions within the project (now 58% of the tank’s cost) and foreign competitors from outside it (the T-90S). As of July 2008, the 58.5 tonne Arjun tank still hasn’t been fielded with the Indian Army. In contrast, Pakistan’s much more time-limited, scope-limited, and budget conscious approach in developing and successfully fielding its T-80UD “Al-Khalid” tank is often cited by Arjun’s detractors. Now reports from India indicate that the Russian T-90S will form the mainstay of its future force, despite that tank’s performance issues in hot weather. At the same time, the Indian Army wants to cap production of indigenous Arjun tanks… Production of the Arjun will be capped at the already-committed total of 124 vehicles. Instead, development will begin on a new next-generation tank, which will be able to serve the Indian Army over the next 20-30 years. Opinion in India appears to be sharply split. Many observers are citing this as the final failure that will close the book on a failed project. Other are noting the problems with the T-90s, and the Army’s refusal to conduct side-by-side tests, alongside recent test successes that are earning the Arun some military fans. DRDO has made allegation of sabotage involving the Arjun’s engine, and insists that a 500 vehicle order will give it the volume needed to iron out all production difficulties and provide a platform for future development. In contrast, the Army’s plan calls for 1,657 T-90S “Bhishma” tanks at about 12 crore (currently $2.78 million) each if prices remain stable, about 1,000 of which are slated to be built in India. They will be joined by just 124 Arjuns at about 16.8 crore (currently $3.92 million) each, as well as 692 older T-72 tanks upgraded to the T-72M1 “Ajeya” standard.