Indian Zorawar tank outshines Russian T‑90 in Ladakh tests
The Indian Zorawar tank has successfully passed tests in extreme conditions in Ladakh, where the Russian T-90s failed, reports the Ukrainian portal Defence Express.
The development of the Zorawar tank has been ongoing in India since 2020, when authorities in New Delhi were in discussions with the Russian Federation about purchasing military equipment. It was indicated that India was interested in light Sprut SMD1 tanks with 125 mm calibre guns.
Ultimately, however, India decided to develop a domestic tank project. Zorawar, as it was named, proved to be valuable equipment for the manufacturer in terms of enhancing India's combat capabilities and caught Russia's attention. During the Dubai Airshow 2023, the Russian Federation expressed interest in the Indian tank. Now, as reported by Defence Express, India is not halting the development of the machine and has announced the successful completion of tank tests.
Successful test of the Indian tank
The Indian Zorawar tank, designed for combat in challenging conditions, successfully passed tests in Ladakh at an altitude of over 4,200 metres. These tests, as reported by Defence-Uua, confirmed its reliability and precision. This marks the second phase of trials following earlier tests in the desert in September.
Zorawar, weighing 25 tonnes, uses proven technologies, including the chassis from the Korean K9 howitzer and a Cummins engine with 760 horsepower. The tank's turret comes from the Belgian manufacturer Cockerill. The Indian company Larsen & Toubro is responsible for the final assembly, highlighting the local contribution to the project.
The decision to develop Zorawar followed the failures of the Russian T-90s in Ladakh. India plans to purchase 350 units, 59 of which have already been ordered. The tank is expected to compete with the Chinese Type 15, which is slightly heavier and more numerous. Zorawar aims to meet the needs of the Indian army in the region.
