New Delhi, Nov 19: After hanging fire for almost 25 years, the much-publicised MBT (main battle tank) Arjun project is likely to be shelved soon.Highly-placed sources have revealed that in the MBT Arjun project, almost $500 million had been set aside for the production of 124 tanks at the Avadi Ordnance factory. However, the ministry of defence (MoD) is now diverting a large number of the 124 Arjun chassis to its 155mm self propelled (SP) howitzer programme. The ultimate requirement in the Indian Army is for 400 SP 155mm systems of local manufacture. According to sources, the Indian Army has now favoured the T-90s in place of MBT Arjun, even though the T-90s failed the heat test (which experts attribute to its weight), thus making the future of Arjun more cloudy.
India recently signed a deal with Russia for the purchase of 310 T-90s for the Indian Army, at a cost of about $1 billion. In fact, sources point outthat the `Arjun' is estimated to be around $5 million, much higher than the T-90s. MBT-Arjun, like LCA, turned out to be poll gimmick for various governments, and since the project started, it has yet to pass some tests to be remotely considered for further tests. Almost 75 per cent of Arjun is imported, including the engine and the transmission. Technical foreign support for Arjun came from Krauss-Maffei (Leopard I/II contractors), MTU (engine), Renk (transmission), Diehl (tracks), and Oldelft (FCS).
Government sources however, denied any such step to be taken by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In fact, they quote a recent consulting committee proceedings, wherein the DRDO is claimed to have assured the members that work is goingonin full force on the MBT. However, it was also accepted that it would be delayed by anotherfew years.
Trying to defend the T-90 deals, government sources felt that there was an immediate need to purchase tanks and the T-90s. Contrary to belief, the T-90s that were in the Russian army are about to be phased out in another 3-5 years if they get the money. Also the purchase of just 310 T-90s for the Indian army is no good to fight the enemy.
According to experts, the T-90 is an evolutionary development of the T-72, and, it is by no means a "new" tank. Basically, buying a few hundred of these tanks will simply get parity with the Pakistani T-80s, but they are surely no good for a long-term solution. Sources say that, problems with Arjun include:
continued technical problems with fire-control system (FCS) which after 25 years has now reached "developmental limit," u engine overheating in desert conditions,poor operational mobility due to excessive weight and width,rail transport a problem since Arjun is oversized,limited ammo-carrying capacity due to new cooling pack which also obstructs gun depression towards the rear,commander's periscopic sight, laser warning sight, and muzzle reference sight need modification,imported content up from 27 per cent in 1987 to 60 per cent in 15 pre-production models, thus raising the costchoice of new engine after 40% increase in price of MTU 838 (1400hp)main gun inaccuracylethality, protection, and containing capacity of ammunition. According to experts, the present T-72M1s in the Indian Army are dangerously obsolete.. They are inadequately armed and protected.Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.