A Zorawar tank during field trials. (File photo)
New Delhi: The Indian Army now expects to induct the indigenous Zorawar light tank between 2028 and 2029, with the Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, saying issues identified during development and testing are being addressed through the normal design refinement process. The revised timeline represents a delay from earlier projections that envisaged induction around 2027.
In remarks published this month, Gen Dwivedi said the programme remained on track but would require successful completion of user trials, operational evaluations and production-readiness milestones before entering service. He described the tank as a critical capability for high-altitude warfare and mountain operations.
The Zorawar programme was launched in the aftermath of the 2020 military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, which highlighted the Army’s requirement for a lighter and more mobile armoured platform capable of operating effectively in the Himalayan region. The Army currently relies largely on heavier T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks in Ladakh, platforms originally designed for plains and desert warfare and therefore subject to operational constraints at high altitudes.
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Developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Larsen & Toubro, the 25-tonne Zorawar light tank is intended to provide rapid deployment, enhanced mobility and substantial firepower in mountainous terrain. The Army has projected a requirement for 354 such tanks under a programme estimated to be worth around ₹17,500 crore.
Recent reports indicate that one factor behind the revised induction schedule is the Army’s demand for enhanced protection against enemy fire. Meeting higher protection requirements without compromising mobility and power-to-weight ratio poses a significant engineering challenge for developers, potentially extending the development cycle by up to two years.
The tank has been specifically designed for operations along the line of actual control (LAC), where the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has already deployed modern light tanks, including the Type 15. Indian military planners view the Zorawar as an important capability to narrow that operational gap and improve the Army’s ability to rapidly reinforce forward positions in difficult terrain
Read also: Zorawar inches towards production line as it completes Phase 1 of field tests
According to the Army chief, the platform is being developed as a light, agile and technologically advanced system tailored for high-altitude operations. The tank is expected to feature modern surveillance and communication systems, substantial firepower and provisions for manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.
The first prototype was unveiled by L&T in 2024 after an accelerated development cycle. Since then, the vehicle has undergone a series of developmental trials, including mobility and performance evaluations in diverse terrain conditions. Additional testing and refinements will continue before the Army begins large-scale induction.
Despite the revised timeline, defence officials maintain that the programme remains one of India’s most significant indigenous armoured vehicle projects and a key component of efforts to strengthen military capabilities along the northern frontier while advancing defence self-reliance.
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