Arjun main battle tank in trouble

The Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) is in trouble. This <g data-gr-id="33">is</g> according to reports that have appeared recently in a couple of publications, where unnamed official sources have been quoted talking about the MBT being out of commission, apparently due to supply chain problems with spares.

Government sources say there is no question about the tanks’ combat readiness, “For if there is war, they will all be out in operations.” The 124 Arjun Mark Is were inducted, after a bruising battle between its Indian scientist and technologist developers on the one hand, and the end users – the army that was demanding more T-90s of Russian make – on the other.

In 2010 summer, Arjun MBT was pitted against the T-90s renamed ‘Bheems’ by the armoured corps of the Army. The trials that took place in Rajasthan’s <g data-gr-id="38">desert,</g> were reported to be a success for the MBT. Five years ago, at the Mahajan range in Bikaner, Arjun outran (there were weight issues with the tank) and outgunned the T-90, as observers then had concluded. The armoured corps of the Army had placed an order for the tank the same month.  

But now questions are being raised about its maintenance on account of the tank having over 50% of components from foreign sources and those now being made unavailable.

Sources don’t deny problems afflicting the <g data-gr-id="41">tanks,</g> but say the number mentioned about these MBT’s being out of commission – 75% as per one report in a US-based publication on defence issues – is incorrect. They say it is a high-technology item. And, “Sustenance of the Arjun MBT is a challenging endeavour, especially within the existing procurement cycle timelines.” These timelines dictate a higher level of <g data-gr-id="47">indeginisation</g>, which these sources say should be <g data-gr-id="40">available,</g> when the Mark II becomes ready. “The trials are progressing (for Mark II),” sources say, “since 2012.”       

Government sources hark back to the fact that the tank – a complex machine – had undergone tests in trials.  

They also point at the fact that the progressive improvements that have been made in the Mark II version of the <g data-gr-id="46">tank,</g> will serve the army for far longer.  “Arjun as a mobile weapon platform suffers from <g data-gr-id="43">credibility</g> of performance, due to poor reliability. For it to succeed, it has to not only win operators’ confidence, but also ensure that it sustains that confidence through its performance over its life-cycle,” said Lt Gen Anil Chait, former chief to the Chiefs of Staff Committee at the Integrated Defence Services Headquarters.