Need for agile, mobile light platform with adequate firepower, protection, surveillance, communication capabilities increasingly finding its operational relevance, says ministry’s request for information

For representation only. Tribune file photo

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 23

After projecting a requirement for a light tank for employment in the mountains in the wake of the stand-off with China in Ladakh, the Ministry of Defence on Friday sought requisite information from the industry for procurement.

The Army intends to procure approximately 350 new generation light tanks in a phased manner along with performance based logistics, niche technologies, engineering support package and other maintenance and training requirements.https://40b73a56d20b0dc6cc7b169e2fc0780a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

“In the foreseeable operational scenario, the need for an agile and mobile light platform with adequate firepower, protection, surveillance and communication capabilities is increasingly finding its operational relevance,” a request for information (RFI) issued by the MoD states.

“The light tank must have the versatility to execute operations in varying terrain conditions across diverse threats and against the equipment profile of the adversaries Hence, light tank having employability in various sectors in the country as well as rapid overseas deployment capability is an operational imperative,” the RFI adds..

The operational concept outlined by the Army is employment of a light weight versatile weapon platform with enhanced tactical and strategic mobility for employment in high altitude areas, marginal terrain like the Rann of Kutch and amphibious operations. The weight of the tank would be below 25 tonnes.

The Army had airlifted its T-90 main battle tanks, which weigh about 46 tonnes, to the area to beef up its capability after the stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh unfolded in May last year.

The Army already had a brigade of the older generation T-72 tanks along with BMP-2/3 mechanised infantry combat vehicle in Ladakh that were moved there over a decade ago. Airlifting tanks and armoured vehicles is the only way to deploy them in Ladakh as there cannot be moved by road due to the terrain, narrow roads and hairpin bends.

Procurement of light tanks is part of the Army’s plan to enhance the mobility and maneuverability of its armoured elements as these are considered to be more versatile in rugged terrain and narrow confines that Ladakh offers.