India’s newly unveiled light tank Zorawar has successfully conducted preliminary automotive and firing trials, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) — one half of the public-private partnership developing the platform — said in a statement today. The tank, intended for India’s high altitude battlefields like Ladakh and the north-east, broke cover in July this year.
“Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on September 13, 2024, successfully conducted the preliminary automotive trials of the Indian light Tank, Zorawar, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas. During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the Light Tank demonstrated exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the intended objectives. In the initial phase, the tank’s firing performance was rigorously evaluated and it achieved the required accuracy on designated targets,” the statement said.
The Zorawar project, a joint effort of the DRDO and Indian private sector giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is a fast-track effort to give the Indian Army a mountain-ready tank — a capability gap identified during the ongoing India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. While China was able to deploy more agile T-15 tanks in the friction areas, the Indian Army had to depend on its heavier fleet of T-90 Bhishma tanks, vehicles not exactly built for agile operations on slopes.
The Zorawar isn’t just about direct combat with enemy armor, but will also play a critical role in supporting infantry operations. Its ability to navigate tough terrain and provide close support in terms of firepower can be crucial in high-altitude warfare. The Zorawar light tank would enable Indian infantry to operate with greater confidence, knowing they have reliable armored support even in the most challenging environments. Deploying heavy tanks like the T-90 in high-altitude areas has not only been operationally challenging but also expensive in terms of logistics and maintenance. For the Indian Army, the Zorawar light tank should offers a more cost-effective solution, providing the necessary firepower and protection without the logistical burden associated with heavier armor. Its lower weight reduces transportation costs and simplifies the supply chain, making it a more sustainable option for long-term deployment in remote areas.
A previous episode of Livefist founder Shiv Aroor’s weekly television show on defence BattleCry focused on the Zorawar project: