Arjun (tank)

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Arjun
Arjun on a test drive

Arjun on a test drive
General properties
crew 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
length 10.07 m
width 3.50 m
height 2.40 m
Dimensions 58.5 t (fighting weight)
Armor and armament
Armor Composite armor
Main armament 1 × 120 mm drawbar cannon
Secondary armament 1 × 7.62mm machine gun (coaxial) and

1 × 12.7 mm machine gun (turret top)

agility
drive 12-cylinder diesel 6TD
1030 kW (1400 PS) diesel engine
suspension hydropneumatic
Top speed 70 km / h
Power / weight 17.6 kW / t (23.9 PS / t)
Range 450 km

Arjun is the name of an Indian modern battle tank that was developed by the armaments company DRDO . It is named after Arjuna , one of the most important hero characters in the Indian epic Mahabharata .

history

After the Bangladesh war with Pakistan , the Indian military found that the imported tank models had proven to be unfavorable for the desert areas of the border regions to its neighbors. As a result, the local development of a battle tank, which should be specially tailored to this difficult terrain, was commissioned. The first prototype was completed in 1985. However, the tests of the sample were unsatisfactory, so that it was worked on for a further eleven years. In 1996 the Arjun was officially presented to the public. This model also turned out to be flawed. In particular, errors in the fire control system were criticized. It was only in 2000 that the Indian army ordered 124 of the tank model. However, delivery to the troops was again delayed. The first 14 vehicles were not delivered until 2007. Due to the problems in development, the future of the Arjun seems uncertain. The small targeted number of 124 tanks would make the in-house development only a marginal phenomenon in the Indian armored forces. In response to Pakistani arms purchases, a total of 330 Russian T-90s have been purchased since 2000 . A Arjun cost around 5.6 million dollars . Due to the persistent problems, the Arjun is referred to by some army officers as the " White Elephant " and the further purchase of T-90 tanks is demanded.

technology

The Arjun has a 120 mm rifled cannon made in India and a 7.62 mm machine gun installed in the turret coaxial with the cannon. A 12.7 mm machine gun is available outside the tower for helicopter combat. Special anti-aircraft bullets for the on-board cannon are still being developed. The computerized fire control system is supported by a laser range finder and an infrared vision device. The tank is powered by a 1400 hp diesel engine . The model is protected by composite armor. The survival probability of the crew is to be increased by a system against fires and explosions. A non-flammable gas is automatically fed into the fuel tank or the engine compartment.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Official publication of the developer and manufacturer: Technology bulletin of DRDO (English)
  2. ↑ Article on the Arjun of the Military Service of the Federation of American Scientists (English) accessed July 22, 2007; Report of an Indian daily newspaper about the delivery of the first 14 tanks (English) accessed on July 22, 2007; Overview of the Indian land forces on one side of the Austrian Armed Forces , accessed on July 22, 2007; Tank models from around the world from 1915 to today. ISBN 978-1-4075-0670-8 .
  3. ↑ Article on the Arjun of the Military Service of the Federation of American Scientists (English). Retrieved July 22, 2007

Web links

Commons : Arjun tanks  - Collection of images, videos and audio files