The new Indian light tank Zorawar has successfully completed testing in the high-altitude region of Ladakh near the border with China. The country's Ministry of Defense reported that the tank underwent live-fire tests at an altitude exceeding 4,200 meters, showcasing its reliability and accuracy.
This marks the second stage of testing for the Zorawar in extreme conditions, following desert trials conducted in September, which are still underway under the auspices of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has been stated that several more tests are yet to come, after which the vehicle will be handed over to the military for final evaluations.
When discussing the Zorawar and its capabilities, it is important to note that this 25-ton light tank primarily utilizes proven solutions. Specifically, the vehicle's chassis is a modified and lightened version of the Korean self-propelled howitzer K9, which has been localized in the country under the name Vajra. The engine is a 760-horsepower diesel Cummins VTA903E-T760, and the turret is the Belgian Cockerill 3105 equipped with a 105-mm gun with a length of 53 calibers.
Therefore, the conversation about reliability at least partially involves Western components, although the role of India's Larsen & Toubro as the final manufacturer of this weapon cannot be understated. Moreover, the development of the vehicle itself, starting from the concept, is Indian.
Furthermore, the Zorawar is being developed to meet truly extreme requirements that the Russian T-90s have struggled with. Back in 2021, the Indian Ministry of Defense decided to acquire light tanks for operations in the high-altitude region of Ladakh, where Russian tanks, as well as licensed versions of the Soviet T-72M Ajeya, demonstrated extremely low reliability.
Since then, the development of a national vehicle has been ongoing, which from April 2023 became the sole option, as India definitively abandoned the Russian "Sprut." Overall, there are plans to procure up to 350 units, but currently, a firm order has been placed for 59 units.
The potential adversary is identified as the Chinese light tank Type 15, which is slightly heavier at 33 tons in the base version and up to 36 tons with additional armor, powered by a 1,000-horsepower diesel engine. Its armament is similar—a 105-mm gun. The crew also consists of three members. Meanwhile, China already has over 500 units of these tanks.
At the same time, in India's gradual shift away from Russia in terms of armaments, one should probably not look for anything more than a quest for benefit for New Delhi itself. This is evident as Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visits Russia with gifts for war criminals and discusses active cooperation with a terrorist state.
For instance, it is believed that India is considering the Russian radar "Voronezh" priced at $4 billion since the procurement of the S-400 went without repercussions.