Understanding the Main Battle Tank
Before diving into the specifics of the Arjun tank, it's important to understand what a Main Battle Tank is. An MBT is essentially a tank that is designed for direct fire and manoeuvre warfare, a key component of modern armies.
The era of the Cold War led to the development of tanks that had powerful engines, enhanced suspension systems, and light composite armour. These advancements resulted in the creation of a tank that had the following characteristics:
- The firepower of a super-heavy tank
- Armour protection of a heavy tank
- The agility and mobility of a light tank
- The weight of a medium tank
By the 1960s, the Main Battle Tank replaced all other types of tanks, and they are now the primary armoured vehicles used by armies around the globe. They are typically organised into armoured units that are supported by infantry, surveillance, and ground-attack aircraft.
The Arjun Battle Tank: Key Features and Specifications
The following table provides a detailed overview of the specifications of the Arjun Battle Tank:
| Key Features and Specifications of Arjun Battle Tank (Mk1 and Mk.1A) |
| Mass |
Mk.1: 58.5 tonnes
Mk.1A: 68 tonnes
|
| Length |
Mk.1: 10.19 metres
Mk.1A/Mk.2: 10.64 metres
|
| Width |
Mk.1: 3.85 metres
Mk.1A/Mk.2: 3.95 metres
|
| Height |
Mk.1: 2.32 metres
Mk.1A/Mk.2: ~2.8 metres
|
| Crew |
4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver) |
| Armour |
ERA, NERA, Kanchan armour (classified) |
| Main
armament
|
1× 120 mm rifled tank gun capable of firing LAHAT, SAMHO,HEAT, APFSDS, HESH, PCB & Thermobaric Rounds
(Rate of fire: 6–8 rounds/minute, total: 42 containerized rounds)
|
| Secondary
armament
|
1× NSV 12.7mm AA MG
1× MAG 7.62 mm Tk715 coaxial MG
12 × smoke grenades
|
| Engine |
MTU MB 838 Ka-501 V10; 1,400 hp (1,044 kW) liquid-cooled turbocharged diesel engine. |
| Designed |
1983–1996 |
| Manufacturer |
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (at Heavy Vehicles Factory) |
Variants of the Arjun Main Battle Tank
Over the years, several variants of the Arjun Main Battle Tank have been produced or proposed for production. These include:
- Arjun MK1: This first variant produced is comparable to the German Leopard 2A4. It is equipped with Kanchan composite armour, a 120 mm rifled gun, and a laser warning receiver protection system.
- Bhim SPH: The Bhim SPH was a proposed self-propelled howitzer of 155 mm calibre. It was intended to be fitted with a G5 howitzer to the tank chassis. However, the project was ultimately cancelled due to a corruption scandal involving the manufacturer, South Africa-based Denel.
- Arjun Catapult System: This is a 130 mm catapult system built on the Arjun Chassis, which was successfully tested, leading to the Indian army placing an order for 40 systems.
- Bridge Layer Tank (BLT): This is a bridge laying vehicle built on an Arjun chassis.
- Arjun MK1A: The MK1A (previously designated as MK2) is a new variant of the Arjun tank designed to enhance firepower, mobility and survivability. It features a completely redesigned turret protected with improved Kanchan armour and ERA. The MK1A has 89 major and minor improvements, 73 of which can be easily incorporated into the MK1 variant.
