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[Indian Army - Armor & Mechanized Infantry]
- News, developments and analysis related to Indian Army's Mechanized forces.
- News, developments and analysis related to Indian Army's Mechanized forces.
India moved first two tank regiments as part of newly raised (I) Armored Bde under 14 Corps in 2014-15 period and third one was post 2016. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Third-regiment-of-T-72-tanks-to-be-moved-to-Ladakh-soon/article14497629.ece
- 10 Infantry Division in Akhnoor became a RAPID
- RAPID-> Reorganized Plains Infantry Division
- A RAPID has an organic Armor Brigade comprising of 2 x armored regts + 2 x Mechanized Infantry Bns
- This is the 7th known RAPID of the Indian Army. https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/912532589751054336
- RAPID-> Reorganized Plains Infantry Division
- A RAPID has an organic Armor Brigade comprising of 2 x armored regts + 2 x Mechanized Infantry Bns
- This is the 7th known RAPID of the Indian Army. https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/912532589751054336
Some pointers on the RAPIDs -
Important thread which brings out key points about the Arjun tank: https://twitter.com/Leopard212/status/919101287848861696?s=20
Reproducing my thoughts on what holds back large scale production and induction of Arjun tanks in the Indian Army -
(1) I've said this before, there are 4 main reasons holding back large scale Arjun induction in the army.
[ONE] - Organizational inertia.
(1) I've said this before, there are 4 main reasons holding back large scale Arjun induction in the army.
[ONE] - Organizational inertia.
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- 2 plus generations of Armored Corps officers have cut their teeth in T-72 and now, T-90.
- Arjun is everything which T-72/90 is not.
- 2-man vs 3-man turret and size argument predates even before first Arjun tanks had entered service with 43rd Armored Regiment
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- 2 plus generations of Armored Corps officers have cut their teeth in T-72 and now, T-90.
- Arjun is everything which T-72/90 is not.
- 2-man vs 3-man turret and size argument predates even before first Arjun tanks had entered service with 43rd Armored Regiment
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- General SR Chowdhary mentions about it in his autobiography.
- He was driving force behind induction of 15 tanks in 43rd Armored Regiment.
- Idea was that an operational unit should be giving feedback to DRDO.
[SECOND] - Bad blood between DPSU (CVRDE/HVF) and the IA
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- General SR Chowdhary mentions about it in his autobiography.
- He was driving force behind induction of 15 tanks in 43rd Armored Regiment.
- Idea was that an operational unit should be giving feedback to DRDO.
[SECOND] - Bad blood between DPSU (CVRDE/HVF) and the IA
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- HVF has very patchy production record. There is already a massive backlog of T-72 & T-90 overhaul.
- IA simply has no faith in ability of HVF to support a weapon system over it's lifetime.
- With T-90, you always have the Russians to fall back upon
- take example of Su-30 +
- HVF has very patchy production record. There is already a massive backlog of T-72 & T-90 overhaul.
- IA simply has no faith in ability of HVF to support a weapon system over it's lifetime.
- With T-90, you always have the Russians to fall back upon
- take example of Su-30 +
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- production at HAL. HAL has missed deadlines repeatedly and as a result, larger work share has been outsourced to Russians to ensure timely delivery.
- Same is the case with T-90; when push comes, you always have Russians.
- And then there is 67% (?) commonality between
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- production at HAL. HAL has missed deadlines repeatedly and as a result, larger work share has been outsourced to Russians to ensure timely delivery.
- Same is the case with T-90; when push comes, you always have Russians.
- And then there is 67% (?) commonality between
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T-72 and T-90.
- For an army with 2500+ tanks, this is a big plus.
[THIRD] - Corruption.
- The unique scenario of dysfunctional R&D-Production set-up, unwillingness to back domestic product by IA due to multiple reason, genuine pressing requirement for new MBT
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T-72 and T-90.
- For an army with 2500+ tanks, this is a big plus.
[THIRD] - Corruption.
- The unique scenario of dysfunctional R&D-Production set-up, unwillingness to back domestic product by IA due to multiple reason, genuine pressing requirement for new MBT
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created a conducive environment for pushing foreign product with attendant palm greasing.
- T-90 induction has gained so much momentum that it is unstoppable.
- Badly worded and enforced contracts mean Russians get away with delaying/denying TOT and still get repeat
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created a conducive environment for pushing foreign product with attendant palm greasing.
- T-90 induction has gained so much momentum that it is unstoppable.
- Badly worded and enforced contracts mean Russians get away with delaying/denying TOT and still get repeat
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orders for new batches of T-90.
- Russian shenanigans held up production at HVF and this delay was used as reason for giving new order of importing directly from Russia!!!
- And IA as the customer has no say in all this! It is happy that AT LEAST, it gets required tanks
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orders for new batches of T-90.
- Russian shenanigans held up production at HVF and this delay was used as reason for giving new order of importing directly from Russia!!!
- And IA as the customer has no say in all this! It is happy that AT LEAST, it gets required tanks
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- HVF-CVRDE-Arjun is one of the few islands of completely broken system in our set-up.
- Unless IA gets assurance that HVF can sustain the product in long term, this logjam will not break. And a powerful tank like Arjun will continue to suffer from apathy.
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- HVF-CVRDE-Arjun is one of the few islands of completely broken system in our set-up.
- Unless IA gets assurance that HVF can sustain the product in long term, this logjam will not break. And a powerful tank like Arjun will continue to suffer from apathy.
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[FOUR] - Sum of parts of less than the whole
- This is an opinion I've arrived at after speaking with some ex-armored corps officials.
- While individual systems of Arjun might be superior to say, T-90, the whole system does not come together in a manner to deliver the
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[FOUR] - Sum of parts of less than the whole
- This is an opinion I've arrived at after speaking with some ex-armored corps officials.
- While individual systems of Arjun might be superior to say, T-90, the whole system does not come together in a manner to deliver the
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whole weight of the sub-systems.
- The superiority of individual systems shows-up in the comparative tests between T-90 and Arjun but yet, a tank man prefers a T-90 over Arjun.
- The solution to this logjam is more interaction between IA and DRDO and not throwing the baby+
whole weight of the sub-systems.
- The superiority of individual systems shows-up in the comparative tests between T-90 and Arjun but yet, a tank man prefers a T-90 over Arjun.
- The solution to this logjam is more interaction between IA and DRDO and not throwing the baby+
+ out with the bathwater.
On Indian Army RFP for 'Future Ready Combat Vehicle' (FCRV) to replace 1,770 T-72 tanks (from 2017) https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/928503631686463488?s=20
On Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/1158387153518227457?s=20
- In case anyone is interested, here's my analysis from 2014 on the scenario of Kinetic Energy / APFSDS rounds in India.
- How OFB did a master screw-up leading to lakhs of APFSDS rounds being discarded.
- And it only now that we'll be filling the gaps.
https://vatsrohit.blogspot.com/2013/11/indian-tank-ammunition-scenario-ke.html
- How OFB did a master screw-up leading to lakhs of APFSDS rounds being discarded.
- And it only now that we'll be filling the gaps.
https://vatsrohit.blogspot.com/2013/11/indian-tank-ammunition-scenario-ke.html
Indian Army - Light Tank
- Analysis of Indian Army's Light Tank requirement with evaluation of trend in Light Tank development around the world and Indian options. https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/1285291555444543488?s=20
- Analysis of Indian Army's Light Tank requirement with evaluation of trend in Light Tank development around the world and Indian options. https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/1285291555444543488?s=20
Well...finally!
- But going by the details, we're a long way off from seeing them in IA service.
- 30 months for first 5 tanks, then GSQR evaluation (why?) and then Bulk Production Clearance.
- It will be 5 years before two regiments become operational!
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-to-move-defence-ministry-for-118-arjun-mk-1a-tanks/article33425919.ece
- But going by the details, we're a long way off from seeing them in IA service.
- 30 months for first 5 tanks, then GSQR evaluation (why?) and then Bulk Production Clearance.
- It will be 5 years before two regiments become operational!
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-to-move-defence-ministry-for-118-arjun-mk-1a-tanks/article33425919.ece
- Only saving grace is co-location, most probably going by the data about location of rotables, of the four regiments in Jaisalmer.
- Honestly, given how the army treats Arjun, it doesn't want the tank.
- Someone from the Army leadership needs to develop some balls and tell MOD +
- Honestly, given how the army treats Arjun, it doesn't want the tank.
- Someone from the Army leadership needs to develop some balls and tell MOD +
+ we don't need this tank.
- And stop this merry-go-around and wastage of national resources.
- Or, MOD needs to take a stand and tell the army to induct 'X' number of tanks.
- Either ways, get a definite move ahead on the project.
- And stop this merry-go-around and wastage of national resources.
- Or, MOD needs to take a stand and tell the army to induct 'X' number of tanks.
- Either ways, get a definite move ahead on the project.
