India to develop indigenous engines for Arjun Mark 1A tanks as German engines get delayed
The German manufacturers making these engines will need about four years to restart production
India is facing a problem with getting engines for its Arjun Mark 1A tanks on time. The German companies making these engines say they need about four years to start making them again. In response, India is thinking of making its own engines for the tanks, a plan that’s already in progress.
According to sources, German engine manufacturers have communicated the need for approximately 48 months to restart production, impacting India’s plans to use the Arjun Mark 1A tanks, especially in desert areas where the Indian Army needs them.
To fix this delay, Indian agencies are leveraging existing resources to expedite the development of indigenous engines for the Arjun Mark 1A project. They might start with tanks that have German engines and then switch to Indian ones later. India ordered 118 Main Battle Tanks Arjun Mark 1-A in 2021, worth Rs 7,523 crore. These tanks are made at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, Chennai.
Known informally as ‘Hunter Killers’, these tanks give a big boost to the Indian Army. With two regiments of its Mark-1 variant already inducted into service since 2004, the Mark 1-A features 72 new features and a higher indigenous component compared to the Mark-1 variant.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment in Chennai, the tank is equipped with a potent 120 mm rifled gun and Kanchan armour, ensuring improved mobility and precision in target engagement across various terrains and lighting conditions.
The current delay in engine supply from Germany has not only encouraged India to speed up indigenous engine development but has also affected plans for a light tank project. As a result, Larsen and Toubro, in partnership with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, have chosen an American Cummins engine.
Indian authorities said that efforts are already in progress to develop an engine for a forward-thinking main battle tank, with potential adaptability for the Arjun Mark 1A project, although requiring specific modifications and adjustments.
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