New Delhi: The Ministry of Defense on Thursday sealed a contract to get 118 main battle tanks (MBTS) Arjun for the Indian Army at a cost of Rs 7,523 Crore, in a big step to improve its combat capabilities.
The Defense Ministry puts orders for the Arjuna MK-1A tank with a heavy vehicle factory (HVF), Avadi, Chennai.
MBT MK-1A is a new variant of the Arjun tank designed to increase fire power, mobility and ability to survive, infused with 72 new features and more original content from the MK-1 variant “Ministry of Defense (MOD) places orders with heavy vehicle factory ( HVF), Avadi, Chennai for the supply of 118 main battle tanks (MBTS) Arjun MK-1A for Indian soldiers on September 23, “the Ministry said in a statement.
“Orders, valued at 7,523 crore, will provide further encouragement for the ‘Make In India’ initiative in the defense sector and is a big step towards the achievement of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said.
The ministry said the tank would ensure easy mobility in all fields, besides the right target involvement in day and night.
It has been designed and developed by the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) by entering many improvements in Arjun MBT, the main battle tank in services with the Indian Army.
“MK-1A is equipped with accurate and superior firepower, all-terrain mobility and unbeatable multi-layer protection provided by various advanced technology systems.
It can take enemies during day and night and dynamic conditions and dynamic modes,” said The ministry.
It is said that production orders to the heavy vehicle plant will open a large road in the field of making defense for more than 200 Indian vendors including MSMEs, with employment opportunities to around 8,000 people.
“This will be a superior project that exhibits customary abilities in the leading defense technology,” said the ministry.
MBT Arjun MK-1A said was designed and developed by Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), along with other DRDO laboratories within two years (2010-12).
“Development activities began from June 2010 and the tank was lowered for user trials in June 2012.
It only took two years to develop and involve MBT Arjun MK-1A for user trials from user needs,” said the ministry.
“Evaluation of a broad trial is carried out in various phases that cover 7000 plus KMS (both in DrDO and User Experiments) Automotive and substantial combustion of various ammunition during 2012-2015,” he said.