Arjun MBT is a perfect example of how a defense product should not be developed. Two decades have produced an MBT, which Indian Army is not confident enough to field in a battle. There is no shying away from this fact that we will have to develop an MBT and we cannot depend on Russian Tanks forever. Let us look at the problems that Arjun has, and how they can be overcome.
Basically, a tank has few major components and they enhance it power and strength. Fire power, it comprises of a Fire Control system, Ammunition, and 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 gunner’s sight) should have a range of more than 10 km and a thermal imager, which can with a range of more than 5.5 km, recognize a target at 4 km and identify targets at 2.5-3.5 km. Fire control system’s ability to fire on the move must have a probability of more than 98% First Shot hit ratio. Building a FCS from scratch will be futile and time taking effort, therefore DRDO developed an existing FCS system from Elbit Israel. It has better range and identification features than T-90 (a T-90 has an identification range of 1.2-1.5 km, while an Arjun FCS has 2.5 km range).
Another, problem with Arjun MBT is with its power pack, it is a German 1400 HP MTU 838 Ka 501Diesel engine, while even Leopard 2 uses a newer version, MTU mb 873 multi-fuel, 1500 hp engine. Instead of using a new and expensive engine, DRDO should allow major engineering firms in India to compete and build a 1500 HP diesel engine. Indian private sector can come up with an answer, an engine, which suits Indian arid conditions and is able to perform under extreme environmental conditions. The new engine should have an increased cruising range from 120 miles to 250 miles. This is really important and it must be on the top of the agenda of DRDO.
Armor of Arjun, though capable for taking Pakistani MBTs leaves a lot to be desired. The armor and the silhouette of a battle tank should withstand direct fire of APFSDS, HEAT, HESH & various RPG rounds. The threat is not just from tanks and ATGMs but also from armed helicopters, ground attack aircraft, and cruise missiles. An MBT with a low thermal signature and angular structure makes it harder for the enemy’s radars to detect it timely and eliminate it. Here Arjun has sure a lot of catching to do. In future we may not just have to face the threat from Pakistani Al Khalids and T-80Us, but also from M1A2, Leopard 2 etc. ERA and depleted uranium armor should also developed for Arjun. In fact, ERA has been developed and deployed.
Much has been said about the weight of Arjun, well all of the NATO MBTs including Israeli Merkavas are more than 60 tons in weight. Excetion being, French Leclerc- 55 tons, and Chinese and Russian MBT are less than 50 tons. Russians have always believed in numbers, in WW2 they overcame heavier Tiger Tanks and their armor by singling out a tiger and then hunting hunting it down like a pack of wolves. The German industry being constantly hit by the allied bombing could not produce Tigers and King Tigers in large numbers to take down T-34 man-o-man. In the chilling heights of cold war, Soviets had fielded more than 50,000 tanks. The modern scenario has changed, now an MBT faces danger not only from other tanks but it lurks from above and also from the shoulder of the poor bloody infantry. These days, the hunter has become hunted, and bounty hunters are many.
Here Active Area Defense System comes to help an MBT and allow it to keep its relevance in the modern battlefield. Arjun has a new AADS from Elbit, Israel. ATGMs have been so successful that MBTs too are carrying them now; Arjun has successfully mounted a LAHAT ATGM, again from Israel with an option of also including Russian Shtora ATGM. Better AADS, communications and air defense gives tank, a chance to fire back at the nagging choppers above.
Indian Army has operated Russian equipment, and has neglected crew protection levels. This was due to buying Soviet Tanks off the shelf, which later cannot be redesigned to enhance crew protection arrangements. In Arjun, the crew is protected from ammunition by the armor so in case of ammunition being hit doesn’t causes crew to meet death in a burning hell. It gives them precious time to escape and live to fight another day with a brand new tank.
Electronics on Arjun comprises of a 32-bit computer, integrated with a GPS and Battlefield Management System, FCS-TIF, and AADS. It has been developed by BEL, and the communications suite is from Marconi Communications and radar equipments from Thales SA. All these raise foreign components to about 70%, and so does the cost to about $ 4 million. When compared to others, like Pakistan, Al Khalid is nothing but Type 90 of China; they are just producing it in assembly line like we are doing with T-90S. T-80Us were bought off the shelf. European and US MBTs cost either same or more than an Arjun, but here we should look with an economist’s perspective. They have been in production for more than two decades and the present versions are based on the experience of those years. Therefore their cost has stabilized more or less, and has weathered the effect of inflation. Once Arjun enters production, and more upgrades come along with gained experience from the army and DRDO, its unit cost will stabilize or even reduce. A computer costs same as it used to 5 years ago, but now is faster, more powerful, and effective. Same phenomenon will happen with Arjun MBT in a lesser degree, unless we do not stop with constructive criticism, army is allowed to dictate changes and enhancements and more components are indigenously designed and produced.
Future plan, steadily localize the foreign components, starting from licensed production to reverse engineering (yes, Chinese are smart when they do this.), and ultimately develop own capability to design, build and implement our own major MBT components. Invest heavily in the Avadi Ordnance Factory so to increase it production capacity, better labor production management, and quality control. Above all, lay down export stipulations, for ex. For every two MBT army buys, one must be exported, this will put pressure on DRDO to make it products from second rate to the globally competitive. The end gainer will be the Indian Armed Forces.
Arjun has bloated dimensions, six cm more than officially laid stipulations. This means Arjun will be bulging 3 cms more on both sides of an Indian flat rail car. It might need broader rail cars and tank trailers. The bigger rail cars and trailers can carry T-72s and T-90s also. This is required because we are developing an MBT on the line of NATO strategy and not the Russian lineage. To achieve a paradigm shift, the complete chain of allied equipments for MBT has to be changed, and this change will not be exclusive catering to the armored equipments of either the Russian or the western family, but to both. It will streamline the supporting elements of the armored corps and reduce the problem of too many types of equipment of many origins. Since it creates huge material management problems in the event of a war. For the time being we can be inspired from milkmen who attach their milk cans on the windows Indian rail compartment windows, those cans sure do extend beyond 3 cms on each side. Be practical, where possible improvise.
In the end, after 7-8 years Indian Armored Corps should have more than 1000 Arjun Mk1 and Mk2 (preferably, 70% indigenous), 500 T-90S, and more than 2000 T-72 upgraded to the T-90 and Arjun standards. The |Arjun MBT program and T-90 serial production will have numerous offshoots for the T-72 up gradation. I sincerely hope, we Indians cast cynicism aside and start thinking strategically. Just because Arjun has flaws and employs somewhat obsolete technology when compared to western tanks, it must not be terminated. An aspiring regional power must make its own big battle platforms like tanks, artillery guns, APCs etc. Merkava MBT of Israel had four versions, Mk 4 being the latest, and it still is not 100% indigenous, it has General Dynamic’s engine. No MBT with an exception of perhaps M1A2 can be said to be a fully homemade tank. Battle winning tanks are not made with egos; they are a clever mix of innovation and inspiration.
