Zorawar light tank faces 2-year delay after Army demands heavier armour

Zorawar light tank faces 2-year delay after Army demands heavier armour India’s Zorawar light tank programme—a DRDO–L&T effort—could be delayed by up to two years after the Army demanded protection beyond STANAG Level 4.Originally slated for induction by 2027, the tank may now be ready only in 2028 or 2029 as engineers look to strengthen armour while keeping weight under the crucial 25-tonne limit needed for high-altitude mobility in places such as Ladakh.STANAG protection levels, defined by NATO, measure how well armoured vehicles withstand battlefield threats including small arms, artillery fragments and mine blasts. Level 4 is designed to stop heavy machine‑gun fire and withstand mine blasts equivalent to 10 kg of TNT. Levels above 4 offer markedly stronger protection: Level 5 resists 25 mm autocannon rounds, while Level 6 can defeat 30 mm armour‑piercing rounds and survive near‑direct 155 mm artillery hits. Higher protection, however, adds significant weight and cost, reducing mobility and limiting deployment in difficult terrain.Zorawar was conceived after China deployed Type‑15 light tanks during the 2020 standoff. India plans to induct 354 units, with an initial batch of 59 to be produced by Larsen & Toubro at its Hazira plant; the tank was showcased to Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Hazira last week.Developed in just 19 months, Zorawar is India’s first indigenous light tank optimised for Himalayan warfare. End of Article