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The Arjun () is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army. The tank is named after Arjuna, the archer prince who is the main protagonist of the Indian epic poem Mahabharata. Design work began in 1986 and was finished in 1996. The Arjun main battle tank entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The 43rd Armoured Regiment was the first regiment to receive the Arjun.
The fire-control system (FCS) originally developed for the Arjun main battle tank has been integrated into the T-90 tanks built in India under a transfer of technology (ToT) agreement by the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi.
History
After the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the Government of India decided to develop a new main battle tank. The Indian Army issued a general staff qualitative requirement (GSQR) for a new battle tank, called for a 50 tonne main battle tank equipped with a 120 mm rifled gun, computerised FCS and powered by a 1,400 hp diesel engine. The programme to develop an indigenous tank was authorised in 1974 and funds were released for its development. In 1976, the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) was established under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to undertake the development of the Arjun main battle tank and to carry out research and development (R&D) on future combat vehicles for the Indian Army.
In 1983, the project began following a consultancy agreement with Krauss-Maffei, who had previously developed the Leopard 2, to oversee design, development and evaluation, while Indian state owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and HVF were joined with the CVRDE in the development of the Arjun. The original plan envisaged the development and rollout of the first tank prototype by 1980, which was later revised to 1987. The first prototype was delivered in 1989. The prototype tank resembled the Leo2A4 main battle tank of Germany.
The initial delays and cost escalations were attributed to the sequential revisions done to the original General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) issued in 1974 to accommodate new features.|group=N The serial production of the Arjun main battle tank began in 2003 at HVF Avadi. The first tank equipped with the BEL developed Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS), ballistic computer and gunner's main sight, was rolled out in 2004 and delivered in the first batch of five Arjun tanks on 7 August 2004. The first tranche of production version Arjun tanks was delivered to the 43rd Armoured Regiment in 2004. By 2009, two armoured regiments had been equipped with the vehicle. The two regiments with Arjun MBT were 43rd and 75th Armoured Regiment. The first test firing of the LAHAT-launched (Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank gun) anti-tank guided missile was carried out in 2004. In 2008, a multi-purpose mobile camouflage system (MCS), developed as part of the Defensive Aid System (DAS) project, had been completed successfully. Field evaluation trials were conducted on the Arjun MK1 main battle tank in 2009. In 2009, an advanced laser warning countermeasure system (ALWCS) and a fibre-optic gyro-based sensor package unit was developed and integrated on the Arjun MK1 main battle tank after field trials were carried out in two phases from May to August 2009. The delivery of all 124 tanks was completed by mid-2012. From 2013 to 2015, 75% of the Arjun tanks had to be grounded because of a lack of spare parts. By 2016, this problem had been rectified, and the tanks returned to active service. The configuration of the new variant was finalised in mid-2010 after consultations with the army. The new tank was redesigned to have 89 major and minor improvements intended to enhance the firepower and survivability of the tank. Of these, 73 improvements could be fitted easily on the existing MK1 variant tanks. In the same year, the Indian Army placed an order for the procurement of 124 Arjun MK2 tanks, which was later approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).
As part of the developmental trials, the first phase of the LAHAT gun-launched anti-tank guided missile firing trials were carried out by 2013. In 2014 and 2016, two new rounds, Penetration-Cum-Blast and Thermobaric, were developed for the Arjun tank and successfully tested. Impact assessments were also carried out with instruments to measure shock and blast pressure.
In the meantime, the Arjun MK2 variant was redesignated as the Arjun Mk1A. By 2018, two Arjun Mk1A prototypes had been built and completed user trials by the end of the year.
In February 2024, DRDO reported that deliveries of the Mk1A are facing delays because of shortages of tank engines.
In June 2025, BEML entered into an agreement with DRDO's VRDE to manufacture Unit Repair Vehicle (URV), Unit Maintenance Vehicle (UMV) and Full Trailer for 70T Tank Transporter equipped with an Advanced Hydraulic Suspension System for Arjun MBT.
Design
thumb|Arjun MK1
Armament
Primary
The Arjun main battle tank has a 120 mm rifled gun fitted with an ARDE-developed (Armament Research and Development Establishment) recoil system, muzzle reference system and fume extractor, which can fire a variety of guided or unguided anti-armour munitions. The main gun is made from high strength electro-slag remelting (ESR) steel which is insulated with a thermal sleeve and autofrettaged to withstand higher pressure.
thumb|Arjun Tank ammunition, from left to right: APFSDS—designated locally as FSAPDS, HESH, TB, and PCB rounds
The Arjun MK1 can fire several types of munitions, including indigenously developed armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) and dual purpose high-explosive squash head (HESH) rounds. The Arjun MK1 can carry a mix of 42 APFSDS and HESH rounds in blast-proof canisters with blow out panels. The new APFSDS Mark 2 round reportedly has improved penetration compared to the extant Mark 1 round.
SAMHO
To enhance the firepower of the Arjun, DRDO earlier considered equipping the tank with a LAHAT gun-launched anti-tank guided missile, but in 2014, it was announced the plan had been dropped. In the same year, DRDO announced the development of an Indian-made, gun-launched guided missile under Cannon Launched Guided Missile Programme (CLMDP), the SAMHO. In 2020, DRDO successfully test fired SAMHO from an Arjun main battle tank.
ARDE developed the SAMHO missile in association with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and the Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE). The SAMHO guided missile has two high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) tandem-charge warheads designed to defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA) protection.
Secondary
thumb|[[Remote controlled weapon station on Arjun Mk1A]]
In addition to the main gun, the Arjun has two machine guns:
- A 12.7 mm NSV heavy machine gun mounted in front of the gunner's hatch for engaging armoured vehicles, low flying aircraft and attack helicopters. In the Arjun MK1 it is operated manually while in Mk1A it has been replaced with a remotely operated gun turret which can be operated from inside the tank without exposing personnel to the hostile battlefield. The MKII variant has a RCWS made by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
- A 7.62 mm machine gun in a coaxial weapon mount. The Arjun's IFCS is designed for quick target acquisition with "first round-first hit probability" during day and night and in all weather conditions. The Arjun has a gun control system integrated into its 120 mm rifled gun which electro-hydraulically stabilises the gun to retain aim accuracy irrespective of the terrain disturbances (while moving).
Protection
Armour
thumb|Close up view of [[Reactive armour#Explosive reactive armor|ERA protection on hull glacis and turret of Arjun MK-1A tank]]
The Arjun MK1 tanks are protected by an indigenously developed armour called Kanchan armour, named after the city of Kanchanbagh, where the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) which designed and developed the armour is located. Kanchan is a composite armour that consists of ceramic tiles and composite panels sandwiched between rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) plates. Its exact composition, the material used and the manufacturing processes are kept highly secret.
The latest variant Arjun, the Mk1A, has a completely redesigned turret protected with improved Kanchan armour with enhanced protection against large calibre kinetic energy projectiles,
The tank has NBC protection and an automatic fire detection and suppression system for enhanced crew protection and survival.
Defensive aid system
Passive protection is provided by a multi-purpose mobile camouflage system (MCS) developed by DRDO; it is integrated on Arjun tanks and evaluations were carried out in 2009. The ALWCS has integrated IR jammers and aerosol based smoke grenades to confuse the anti-tank guided munitions.
The ALWCS is interfaced with the FCS of the Arjun tank, which autonomously rotates the grenade launcher in the direction of and perceived threat and fires aerosol smoke grenades. while ammunition rounds are stored in a containerised ammunition bin with an individual shutter with blow off panels to mitigate the hazard caused by ammunition cook off. The Arjun tank has a maximum fuel capacity of in addition to the GPS/inertial navigation system it retains from its predecessor, for enhanced navigation in uncharted hostile enemy territory.
In 2013, the Indian Army announced it would not purchase any additional vehicles above the 124 Arjuns that had already been ordered.
- Arjun Catapult System: A 130 mm Catapult howitzer system based on the Arjun chassis. The trials were concluded successfully, and the Indian Army was expected to place an order for 40 systems.
thumb|Bridge Layer Tank (BLT) Arjun
- Bridge Layer Tank (BLT) based on the Arjun chassis developed by the CVRDE. It uses the "scissors type" of bridge laying method, which does not raise the bridge high up into the air, reducing its visibility to hostile forces.
- Arjun ARRV: Armoured recovery and repair vehicle based on the Arjun chassis developed by CVRDE and BEML, for supporting Arjun tank regiments in battlefield.
- Tank EX: A hybrid experimental tank prototype, coupling a T-72 chassis with an Arjun turret.
thumb|Arjun Mk1A
- Arjun Mk1A: The Mk1A (previously designated as MK2) is a new variant of Arjun tank designed to enhance firepower, mobility and survivability. It has a completely redesigned turret protected with improved Kanchan armour and ERA. The Mk1A has 89 major and minor improvements, of these 73 could be easily incorporated into the MK1 variant. Other major improvements include the addition of NERA for protection, integration of the gun-launched SAMHO ATGM, integration of the gunner's main sight with the automatic target tracking system, integration of the commander's panoramic sight (CPS MK-II) with the laser rangefinder and dual magnification day sight, the addition of an uncooled thermal sight interfaced with the FCS for hunter-killer capability, the addition of an uncooled sight system with binocular vision for the driver, a remote controlled weapon station, a track width mine plough, a containerized ammunition bin with individual shutter (CABIS) for crew safety, an advanced land navigation system, a new auxiliary power unit with double power generation capacity, and a redesigned hydropneumatic suspension system with new advanced running gear system (ARGS) to enhance agility. The Arjun Mk1A has considerably more indigenous content than previous variant.
- Unmanned ground vehicle variant planned for production.
FMBT
Specifications
{|class=wikitable
|+ Arjun specifications
|-align=center
!width="12%"|
!width="44%"| Arjun MK1
!width="44%"| Arjun Mk1A
|-align=center
| Designer
|colspan=2| Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE)
|-align=center
| Manufacturer
|colspan=2| Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF)
|-align=center
| Produced
| 2004–2012
| 2021 –
|-align=center
| Operator
|colspan=2| Indian Army
|-align=center
!colspan=3 |Technical details
|-align=center
| Length
|colspan=2| (with gun forward)
|-align=center
|Width
|colspan=2|
|-align=center
| Height
|colspan=2| (turret roof) (with gun mount)
|-align=center
| Weight
|
|
| 1500 hp DATRAN V12 turbocharged diesel engine
|-align=center
|Power/weight
| 24:1 hp/ton
|
|-align=center
|Range
|
|
|-align=center
|Max.speed
| /h
| /h
|-align=center
|Crew
|colspan=2|4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
|-align=center
!colspan=3| Armament
|-align=center
|Primary
|colspan=2| 120 mm rifled gun with recoil system
|-align=center
|Ammunition
|colspan=2| APFSDS (MK-I & MK-II), HEAT, HESH, PCB, TB, SAMHO
|-align=center
|Secondary
|1 × 12.7 mm HCB
1 × MAG 7.62 mm Tk 715 A
|1 × 12.7 mm remotely operated gun turret
1 × MAG 7.62 mm Tk 715 A
|-align=center
!colspan=3| Protection
|-align=center
|Armour
|Kanchan composite modular armour
|Improved Kanchan, ERA, NERA
|16 × 81 mm Anti-thermal Anti-laser Smoke Grenade
- 2 Mk1A (prototypes) in service, with 118 Mk1A tanks on order. On 23 September 2021, the Indian Army signed a contract for 118 Arjun Mk.1As with the first five due to be delivered within 30 months.
- 40 130 mm M-46 Catapults based on Arjun chassis.
Failed contracts
- : Bahrain was in talks with India for the procurement of Arjun Mk II, which was reported in March 2022.
- : Colombia expressed interest to purchase the Arjun in 2009.
See also
- List of main battle tanks by generation