Zorawar Light Tank: India's Mountain Marcher

Suggestions Ground
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Flag_of_India_svg.png.56aef95653959485fe Zorawar Light Tank: India’s Mountain Marcher 220px-ADGPI_Indian_Army_svg.png.9aa496fd The Zorawar LT during its revealing.

  • Description:
    • Role: Light Tank
    • Origin: India
    • Manufacturer: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)/Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
    • Summary:
      • The Zorawar LT is an innovative light tank developed by India, primarily designed for operations in high-altitude environments. Named after General Zorawar Singh, a prominent 19th-century Dogra general, the tank is a response to the increasing security challenges along the India-China border, particularly following the skirmishes in Ladakh from 2020 to 2022. The Indian Army recognized the need for a more maneuverable and lighter armored vehicle capable of traversing the difficult terrains where traditional main battle tanks, such as the T-72 and T-90, struggled due to their size and weight. Not to mention, the immediate armored threat that it would be facing would be the ZTQ15 light tank that has its own formidable armament on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
      • Development of the Zorawar LT began in earnest in 2022, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) collaborating on its design and production. The tank is set to weigh around 25 tonnes and features a high power-to-weight ratio, which enhances its mobility in challenging environments. The Zorawar LT is equipped with a main armament consisting of a Cockerill 105 mm high-pressure rifled gun, allowing it to engage various threats effectively. This gun will eventually be replaced with an indigenous version. Additionally, it carries secondary weapons, including a BEL RCWS 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun that has its own laser rangefinder, target auto-tracker, and thermal imager for targeting, a coaxial PKT machine gun, and anti-tank guided missiles, making it versatile on the battlefield. The type of missiles the vehicle are still unknown with much speculation being a derivative of the NAG-series of missiles like the MP-ATGM. Originally thought to be the Spike missile however, the MoD focused on procurement of an indigenous missile and only purchased a limited amount of Spike’s. The Gunner and Commander both utilize a PASEO - Long Range Panoramic Targeting Sight which provides them both with enhanced zoom capabilities, target auto-tracking, and 3rd-generation thermal imagers. A Laser Warning Receiver and 16x 81mm smoke grenade launchers are installed. All of this is housed in a modified Cockerill 3105 turret. The Driver utilizes cameras and day/night periscopes for situational awareness. Armor protection is not specified but is believed to be composite armor plating that is spaced, making the vehicle protected frontally against at minimum of 20mm AP rounds and 14.5mm AP rounds all around. A Laser Warning Receiver is also installed. More information will be released about this later on.
      • In terms of propulsion, the Zorawar LT boasts a powerful engine, with options including the MTU 8V 199 TE21, providing 816 horsepower, or a Cummins VTA903E-T760 engine with 760 horsepower. It can reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h on roads and maintain 35-40 km/h in cross-country conditions. The vehicle features composite tracks and floats for amphibious operations, providing it significant additional advantages compared to the rival of the vehicle, the ZTQ15. Water jets/bilge pumps can be seen on the the vehicle as well.
      • As of early 2024, the prototype of the Zorawar LT underwent developmental trials, with ongoing testing planned. Other aspects of the vehicle will include an active protection system and loitering drone capabilities. An initial order for 59 units has been placed, with future procurement plans indicating the potential for up to 295 additional tanks. The Zorawar LT represents a significant advancement in India’s armored capabilities, tailored specifically for high-altitude warfare and the unique challenges presented by the rugged Himalayan terrain. One thing to note Bharat Electronics Limited, another Defense Company, plans to produce there own competitor to the Zorawar by DRDO which could change these plans in the future.
Live-fire testing during Phase-I trials of the vehicle. Note, the floats are removed providing a better view of the vehicle.

Media/Imagery


Image dump of the Zorawar LT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7kTFMF_TMY

Video covering the vehicle.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oFuQFa3H-3Q

Video showing a 360-degree view of the vehicle as it passes.


Poster from DRDO covering the vehicle.


Model of the vehicle for display purposes. This model was released well prior to the prototype.


The Gun used by the vehicle. Production variant will likely use an indigenous gun.


The BEL RCWS used on the vehicle.


The Sight used by the Gunner and Commander.


The MTU 8V 199 Diesel Engine.


The Cummins V903 Diesel Engine.

Would you like to see the Zorawar LT in-game?
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6 Likes
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I got a message about why I posted this when “not much” is known on the vehicle. The vehicle even though it’s new, still uses many proven technologies that are already available so it’s very easy to make an assessment on the capabilities of the vehicle as well as what time of weaponry the vehicle would use, like the missiles. The turret is well known and available, the optics are PASEO’s, the RCWS is the same found on the Arjun Mk. 1A, etc.

Edit: I will also update the suggestion as more information becomes available.

3 Likes
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Even if we don’t know a lot about it and can only make inferences, I think it’s good to have a post such as this to post about new developments, hold discussion, and so on. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, as any new information can be added, and old information corrected if needed.

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Here’s a video of the Zorawar during Phase-I trials, firing without its floats attached. Gives an idea of what the armor looks like behind the floats and a better idea of the hull in general. It’s worth noting the armor isn’t going to be “that” great, the vehicle is designed to be light at ~25t to be highly maneuverable in the mountains and to be amphibious. Its main focus is firepower and maneuverability. Increased protection will come in the form of an active APS in the future.

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Interesting it needs to be amphibious when it’s going to be used in mountain terrain

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When this vehicle is compared to the ZTQ15 (which is the main reason for its creation realistically), it has the advantage of firepower and mobility but suffers in armor protection. Depending on if the ZTQ15 receives the GL-6 APS or if the Zorawar adapts its own indigenous APS or more realistically, the Iron First-Light Decoupled (IF-LD) due to its light weight, this dynamic could change further as well.

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+1 for a 10.0/10.3 premium in the British tree, it will essentially perform the same as the CV 90105, and actually fill a gap in the tree unlike the Bhishma.

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Premium and 10.3?! I respect the opinion but this thing is research material. It’s going to be the main light tank of the Indian Army lol. Eventually we’re going to get researchable Indian vehicles in the tree.

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Very good!
+1 for Indian tree!

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Cutout showing the interior layout of the vehicle.

  • Not the best image provided by DRDO but it shows a pretty standard layout. Engine in the rear, external fuel tank in the front with armor layer behind it. Typical Cockerill 3105 turret setup with the PASEO sights. Additional ammunition stowage in the front. Water jets by the engine for its amphibious operations.
  • x.com

Also, new follow up sources:

3 Likes
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I think it wont be Amphibious without preparation (OR) needing to remove those obnoxious side blocks
Edit: i now see that those are floats…

The capability to float seems silly and uneeded considering the only water bodies to the north of i dia are going to be rivers… shallow and fast moving…
Unless very specific large water bodies are focused on.

OSINT suggested areas of deployement:

Spoiler

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1 Like
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Since it’s going to be (or supposedly) the Indian Army’s primary Light Tank, could be used outside the country on external deployments or in various areas around the country in the event of conflict. Having the amphibious capability is probably a “just in-case” feature or for like you said, local rivers and lakes.

2 Likes
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Not only outside, there are many areas in the country that are apt for an amphibious light tank to function. Some of them that I can think of are Andaman Island chain which has lot of hills, Rann of Kutchh bordering Pakistan is a salt flat region that requires lighter and amphibious tanks, Bangladesh border with Sunderbans and Gangetic delta requiring lots and lots of amphibious operations, Myanmar border with all the hills are prime areas where this tank can be easily utilized.

Never understood why Indian Army stopped having the Light Tanks in its inventory.

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https://idrw.org/drdos-arde-begins-development-of-indigenous-105mm-gun-for-zorawar-light-tank/

Further information on the indigenous gun being developed.

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There are some huge lakes in Tibet region

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On that topic, it seems like there’s intent to develop an indigenous FSAPDS round for this tank and any other future vehicles fielding a 105mm gun. I believe the given weight is with sabot, etc. included as it would otherwise be infeasibly dense and/or wide diameter. I have only surface level knowledge of how dart rounds perform but I think it would be reasonable to say this round is around 105mm DM63 level if not better. It remains to be seen whether this pans out or not. India has developed indigenous ammunition for existing weapons before such as the shots used by their T-72/T-90s so it’s hardly impossible.

1 Like