TechIndia's Atharva: Bridging older tanks to modern warfare standards
India's Atharva: Bridging older tanks to modern warfare standards
27 March 2024 22:44
Several days ago, new information surfaced on Twitter regarding the Atharva, an Indian hybrid tank constructed by integrating the hull of the T-72 Ajeya (T-72M1) with the turret of the T-90S/MS Bhishma. Despite appearing to duplicate news from over a year ago, we are introduced to at least two novelties.
The first relates to a formal matter. The new tank, unveiled in January in Lucknow, has recently been officially named Atharva, moving away from the previously circulated name T-79 Kumbhkaran.
The second piece of news is about the unofficial information regarding the swift deployment of the tank for trials in the Thar Desert, located in western India. Developed by the Awadi facilities, the new armored vehicle is intended to be delivered to the Indian armored forces promptly, though promises of this nature have been made for over a year now. Should all tests proceed without any issues, there's a strong possibility that the first tanks will be deployed to Ladakh within a few months.
Atharva's inception is geared towards enhancing the T-72 Ajeya tanks' combat effectiveness in a cost-efficient manner, given that these tanks' capabilities are nearly on par with the outdated T-72M1 models. The challenge of obtaining spare parts, which are either not produced or fail to reach the subcontinent, exacerbates the situation.
Online sources reveal some of the tank's specifications, highlighting a significant improvement in firepower, turret armor thickness and crew situational awareness compared to the T-72 Ajeya (T-72M1) and T-90S/MS Bhishma. Since its introduction in 1982, Atharva signifies a fresh attempt to augment the combat capability of the aging tanks within the Indian land forces.
The "new" tank is armed with a 125mm 2A46M-5 gun and accompanies a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun. Additionally, a large-caliber NSW/Kord machine gun with a 12.7mm caliber is mounted on the turret roof. All weaponry is housed within a turret module constructed from rolled welded armor plates, bolstered with Kontakt 5 explosive reactive armor modules.
Opting for a rolled rather than a cast turret has improved crew safety. The T-90S turret offers superior armament, including a thermal imaging camera-equipped fire control system, which the Ajeya models lack. Weapon stabilization enhances the potential to engage enemy targets from both stationary and moving positions.
However, the heavier turret, despite its benefits, increases the overall combat weight of the tank to about 45,600 kilograms (an increase of approximately 2,000 kilograms) and results in a power-to-weight ratio of 17.3 horsepower per tonne, noticeably lower than the T-90S's 21.5.
The tank's mobility suffers as a consequence, particularly because the original power unit was not replaced, retaining the 780 HP W-46-6 engine instead of the more powerful W-92S2 engine with 1,000 HP found in the T-90S.
Atharva is able to fire 125mm anti-tank guided missiles, specifically the Russian 9M119M Invar and 9M119M1 Invar-M, capable of engaging heavily armored targets at a distance of up to 5 kilometres. It also includes a loading mechanism that improves the rate of fire.
This hybrid creation represents an effort to enhance the T-72 Ajeya's capabilities and embodies the local defense industry's desire to independently modernize the T-72 for the domestic land forces. With many T-72s in its arsenal, India sees the improvement of these tanks' combat potential as essential for maintaining their serviceability and ensuring competitiveness on the battlefield.
However, the reduced mobility, already a concern with the aging predecessor, might prove detrimental. The Indian military requires a tank with sufficient mobility for operations in challenging terrains, such as Ladakh, making the upcoming trials in the Thar Desert crucial.
It's noteworthy that in 2002, a hybrid T-72 equipped with the turret system of the Arjun tank was disclosed, enabling the firing of LAHAT anti-tank guided missiles from a 120mm main gun. Despite high expectations, the project ended after producing only eight prototypes, marking a significant disappointment for the defense industry.
The Indian land forces currently have ambitious plans to enhance their armored capabilities to form new tactical units - integrated battle groups (IBG) - along the borders with China and Pakistan. The Military Balance 2023 reports that the armored component of the Indian land forces encompasses over 3,600 main battle tanks of various models: 122 Arjuns, 2,400 T-72M/M1 Ajeyas, T-90S/T-90MS Bhishma, and 1,100 tanks in storage.
In November 2019, New Delhi signed a deal for 464 T-90MS tanks valued at approximately £2.1 billion. The process to acquire 118 upgraded Arjun Mk-1A tanks has also commenced, with the first tank received in February 2023 and plans to manufacture only five vehicles over the next thirty months. New Delhi aims to acquire over 240 such vehicles in the short term.
Additionally, India is exploring the acquisition of 1,770 "future tanks" under the FRCV (Future Ready Combat Vehicles) programme. These tanks will utilize smart ammunition, including anti-tank guided missiles fired from the main gun, combat air threats such as helicopters and drones with remotely controlled weapons, and feature multispectral camouflage to reduce their thermal signature.
With built-in artificial intelligence and network-centric warfare capabilities, the FRCV aims to revolutionize battlefield engagements. However, it remains uncertain how long it will take for these advanced technologies to be fielded. Therefore, despite appearing as a temporary measure, Atharva may yet play a crucial role.
