Arjun

Written by Main Battle Tank -

Crew: 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader & Driver).

Combat Weight: 58,500 kg (58.5 tonnes).

Power-to-Weight Ratio: 23.93 hp/ton.

Ground Pressure: 0.84 kg/cm2.

Length: 10.194 metres.

Width: 3.847 metres.

Height: 2.32 metres.

Ground Clearance: 0.45 metres.

Maximum Speed: 72 km/h (45 mph) - road.

.......................40 km/h (25 mph) - cross-country.

Maximum Range: Un-refuelled range in combat; 450 km (280 miles) - estimate.

Maximum Fuel Capacity: 1610 litres.

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Gradient: 77?.

Slide Slope: 40%.

Vertical Obstacle: 0.9 metres.

Trench Crossing: 2.43 metres.

Shallow Fording: 1.4 metres.

Engine: Prototype variants are fitted with a MTU 838 Ka-501 (from Germany) 10-cylinder,
liquid-cooled, diesel producing 1400 hp @ 2400 RPM. Production variants will reportedly be
fitted with a locally-designed engine developing 1500 hp.

Transmission: Prototype variants have a semi-automatic transmission (from Germany) with 4

forward and 2 reverse gears. Renk Epicyclic with hydrodynamic torque converter. Production
variants will have a locally designed semi-automatic transmission, hydrodynamic torque
converter, retarder and integral system.

Suspension: Hydro-pneumatic. The aluminium alloy rubberised track blocks have

rubber-bushed pins, the track tensioners have a built-in overload protection.

Steering: Double radii, mechanical steering with neutral turn.

Brakes: Hydraulically operated high performance disc brake that is incorporated into the final
drive.

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Electrical System: Not known.

Armament: 1 x 120mm rifle bore, electro-slag refined main gun with 39 rounds (HE, HEAT,
HESH, APFSDS and smoke).
...............1 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun with 1000 rounds - estimate.
...............1 x 7.62mm co-axial machine gun with 3000* rounds - estimate.

Fire Control System: Bharat Electronics AL-4421 Mk.1B Digital FCS.

Turret Power Control: Electro-Hydraulic / Manual.

Gun Elevation/Depression: +20/-10?.

Gun Stabiliser: Vertical / Horizontal.

Rangefinder: Laser from Barr & Stroud Ltd., with a reported range of 10 km.

Smoke Grenade Launchers: Nine forward-firing smoke grenade discharges, mounted on either
side of the turret, with the upper layer having five tubes and the lower layer having four.

Projected Variants: Engineer Tank

..........................Artillery Support
..........................Observation Post Vehicle
..........................Armoured Recovery Vehicle
..........................Air Defence (Gun or Missile)
..........................Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge

Comments: In a written reply to Parliament on 07 March 2001, Defence Minister George

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Fernandes said the first batch of Arjun Mk.1 MBTs are to be delivered to the Army during
2003/04. This first batch, consisting of 125 tanks to be produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory
at Avadi, will equip two to three armoured regiments. The government has allocated $425
million for the purpose and reportedly the first of these have been delivered to the 2nd
Independent Armoured Brigade. The MoD was considering diverting a large number of the 125
Arjun chassis to its self-propelled (SP) 155mm howitzer program (
Bhim ) that
underwent a successful second round of trials in the Rajasthan desert in 1999. The South
African SP system was successfully in 1998 and the MoD wanted another round of trials before
opening negotiations of 120 units. The Army ultimately wants an inventory of around 400 SP
155mm systems through local manufacture.

The Arjun has been plagued with technical problems with regards to the fire control system,
which has reached its developmental limit. Engine overheating problems in desert conditions as
well as poor operational mobility, due to its excessive weight and width are also some of the
other pressing concerns. Transporting the Arjun has also proved to be a problem, as the
58-tonne tank protrudes 6cm beyond the permissible 3cm limit on either side of tank
transporters used for India's current MBT, the T-72M1. The MoD has allocated $3.9 million to
build three transporter types to move Arjun. The improved cooling pack, has limited
ammunition-carrying capacity and obstructs gun depression towards the rear. The commander's
periscope sight, laser warning sight and muzzle reference sight also need modification. A recent
CAG (Comptroller & Auditor General) report stated that Arjun's imported content had risen from
27% to nearly 60% in the 15 pre-production series (PPS), substantially enhancing costs.

The Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), responsible for
developing the Arjun, as of mid-1998 built 32 tanks - 12 prototypes, 15 pre-production series,
two torsion-bar versions, one test vehicle, one recovery tank and one Mk.II test vehicle. Officials
involved with the project said a proposal to build around 40 tanks, enough to equip one
regiment, before moving on to develop and produce an improved Arjun Mk.II was also under
consideration. India was also looking for an engine to replace Arjun's 1400 hp MTU 838 after its
German manufacturer recently amplified their price. Reportedly a locally-designed 1500 hp
engine is under development. MoD sources said the additional cost of ammunition, spares and
engineering support to serially produce two Arjun regiments over the next five years would
ultimately push each MBT's cost to around US $4.7 to $5.3 million, reportedly far higher than
the price for the T-90S MBT .

Features of the Arjun Mk.1 MBT

The integrated digital fire control system installed in the Arjun Mk.1 MBT consists of a laser
rangefinder, ballistic computer, thermal imaging night sight, meteorological sensor, stabilised
panoramic sight for the tank commander, stand-by (articulated) sighting telescope, GPS and an
electronic gate to ensure a first round hit probability. The third generation director type, fire

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control system with a 120mm gun electronically slaved to the sights, enables the gunner to
locate, identify, track, range and engage moving targets while its moving. This gives a high first
round hit probability. The gunner's main sight consists of a day sight, thermal sight, laser
rangefinder and stabilised head common, to all three channels. The common sighting head
mirror is stabilised in elevation and azimuth. The day sight has dual magnification while the
thermal imager provides a night vision facility to the gunner and the commander to observe and
engage targets under conditions of total darkness and smoke. The laser rangefinder is integral
with the gunner's sight.

The panoramic sight enables the commander to effect an all-round surveillance on the
battlefield without moving his eyes from the sight and without being disturbed by the motion of
the turret. The field of view is stabilised with the help of a two-axis rate gyro mounted on the
platform of the head mirror. The sight has dual magnification. The ballistic computer, computes
the gun laying data based on information provided by a number of sensors mounted in the
vehicle and on manual inputs and provides the signals corresponding to the tangent elevation
and azimuth offset. To increase the accuracy of the firing, the fire control system has a
coincidence window that allows firing of the main armament only when it reaches the desired
position as dictated by the computer. The 120mm rifled gun will fire APFSDS (Armour Piercing
Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HESH (High-Explosive Squash Head), HE (High-Explosive),
HEAT
(High-Explosive Anti-Tank) and smoke rounds. A special 120mm anti-helicopter round is under
development as well. All 120mm rounds use a semi combustible cartridge case.

The 120mm rifled gun is made of ESR steel and is fitted with a thermal sleeve and a fume
extractor. The thermal sleeve prevents irregular temperature distribution on to the tube due to
the weather influences. A new high energy propellant is used in the 120mm rifled gun to give a
higher muzzle velocity and therefore greater penetration characteristics. A 7.62mm machine
gun is coaxial with the main armament and a 12.7mm AA machine gun is fitted for anti-aircraft
defence. Production Arjun MBTs will also have a new composite laminate armour called
Kanchan. This will be produced by Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MDNL). The tank also has a
NBC (Nuclear-Biological-Chemical) system that is designed & built by BARC and a night vision
device built by IRDE. To further enhance combat survivability, the tank has an auto-fire
detection & suppression system. Ammunition is also stowed in water tight containers to reduce
the risk of fire.

Contractors for the Arjun Mk.1 MBT

Combat Vehicle & Research Development Establishment (CVRDE)
Responsible for design, development and assembly of the automatic system including hull,
turret, engine, transmission, suspension, running gear, electrical system and integration of all
systems.

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Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE)

Development of 120mm rifled gun, secondary and anti-aircraft weapons, smoke grenade
dischargers, and ammunition for main and secondary armament.

Explosive Research & Development Laboratory (ERDL)

Development of semi-combustible cartridge cases and high energy propellants.

Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE)

Development of the turbocharger.

Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE)

Development of the integrated fire control system, day and night vision and sighting devices,
laser rangefinder, ballistic computer and sensor.

Defence Metallurgical Laboratory (DML)

Development of the high protection Kanchan armour.

Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL)

Immunity studies.

Electronics & Radar Establishment (ERE)

Electromagnetic interference/Electromagnetic compatibility studies.

Proof & Experimental Establishment (PEE)

Proving of armament and ammunition.

Defence Institute of Fire Research (DIFR)

Development of the fire detection and suppression system.

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Manufacturer
Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi.

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