DRDO Karna - Failed Hybrid

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Suggestion No.55

G’day lads. I want to suggest an Indian hybrid tank, which combines the turret of the Arjun MBT and the hull of a T-72M1, removing the autoloader for a manual one and much more. All of these can be found on the Karna, sometimes also known as “Tank EX” :)

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Description:

Spoiler

The Karna is a prototype main battle tank developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India. The Karna combines the chassis of the T-72M1 (Ajeya) and the turret and weapon system of the Arjun MBT. It has a crew of four - a commander, gunner, loader, and driver. The tank weighs 47 tonnes, making it heavier than the T-72M1 but lighter than the Arjun MBT. It is equipped with a 120 mm rifled gun, capable of firing unitary APFSDS and HESH semi-combustible cartridge case ammunition. It also has secondary armament of a 12.7 mm AA MG and a 7.62 mm coaxial MG. The tank is powered by a 1,000 hp diesel engine, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 21 hp/ton. It uses “Kanchan” composite armor, providing protection against both kinetic and HEAT rounds. The tank has a maximum speed of 60 km/h on roads and 40 km/h off-road. It has an operational range of 480 km. It features a third-generation director type integrated FCS with a sophisticated digital ballistic computer.

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History:

Spoiler

India’s T-72M1, also known as the Ajeya, was introduced in the early 1980s as a stopgap measure to replace the aging Vijayanta tanks. The Indian Army acquired these tanks through a license agreement with the Soviet Union, and they were locally produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi. Over the years, more than 1,100 T-72M1 tanks were built.

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As time progressed, the T-72’s were getting more and more obsolete, so India had to find a solution. The Karna, also known as the Tank EX back then, was developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 2002 as a prototype main battle tank. The project aimed to modernize the Indian Army’s aging T-72M1 fleet by integrating the chassis of the T-72M1 with the turret and weapon system of the Arjun MBT. The Tank EX was named after Karna, a key figure from the Indian epic Mahabharata.

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Despite undergoing six months of trials, the Karna was ultimately rejected by the Indian Army in 2008. A total of eight prototypes were built during the development phase. The rejection was part of a broader decision to halt further orders for the Arjun tanks and to invite international participants to discuss future tank developments.

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Armaments:

Spoiler

120mm rifled cannon, capable of firing the same rounds as the Arjun, such as the FSAPDS (Mk.1, possibly Mk.2 also?), HESH, PCB (Penetration Cum Blast, why the hell is this even the name?), ATGM’s such as LAHAT or SAMHO. Elevation/Depression +16.5°/-10°

1 12.7mm AA machine gun

1 7.62mm coaxial machine gun

Arjun FCS

Thermal imager

Blowout panels

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Specifications:

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The Karna has a length of 9.19m, a width of 3.37m and a height: 2.93m. It weights 47 tons, which is heavier than the T-72M1 but lighter than the Arjun. Due to the weight, the Karna is powered by a 1,000hp diesel engine, similar to the one used in the Combat Improved T-72, which gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 21hp/t.

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Sources:

Spoiler

Tank-EX: DRDO’s New Tank – Indian Army

Army / Defence Press Releases / Main Battle Tanks / Project Tank-Ex

Ordnance Factory Board

TRISHUL: Orders Placed For Arjun Mk1A MBT’s Vectronics Suite

Perspective: Indian Tank Ammunition Scenario -KE Penetrators

TRISHUL: New Force Accretions Are Welcome, But There's More On The Waiting List-2

T-72M1 – Indian Army

T-72 Ajeya Indian main battle tank (1982)

Tank EX - Wikipedia

Arjun (tank) - Wikipedia

T-72M1 Ajeya

Production of MBT Arjun. Modest reasons for pride

Thanks a lot for reading! If you have any extra information, then feel free to share them in the replies! As always, have a good day :)

1 Like

Interesting vehicle, how is its reverse speed? Also, without an autoloader I wonder how fast the reload would be and by the looks of it, it looks like its got better depression than the usual ones found is Soviet tanks.

+1, wouldve liked this better than the Bhishma we got in game.

1 Like

Unsure, but if I had to guess, it might keep the same transmission despite having a big engine upgrade

1 Like