India’s tank forces have relied long enough on a mix of Soviet-produced T-72s, Russian-supplied T-90s, and homegrown development of the Arjun Main Battle Tank. Of the three, the Arjun—namely the Mk 1A version—is the best representation of India’s aspiration to develop and field a tank of its own. But it has not been a simple journey to arrive there.
The latest challenge is an important one: engines. The Indian Army has ordered the 118 Arjun Mk 1A tanks, but they are to be powered by MTU MB 838 Ka-501 V10 engines from Germany. The catch? Deliveries are years away, with the Army twiddling its thumbs and forcing India to scramble to design an in-house power plant.
The plan is to put at least 20 tanks through the toughest tests before mass deployment. The focus is not only on the Arjun, but also on future platforms like the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV).
India’s own indigenous engine, the DATRAN, is being developed to endure the toughest of conditions—with self-cleaning filters, advanced fuel injection systems, and the ability to function at high altitude and temperature extremes.
But engine replacement is not a plug-and-play activity. The design of the Arjun has revolved around the compact U-shaped MTU engine, and thus, the hull will need a two-year redesign to accommodate the DATRAN, which is larger.
The tank itself is a Western design product, with more defense and firepower. With its thick Kanchan composite armor, supported by MK-II Explosive Reactive Armor, the Arjun is set to counter modern anti-tank rounds. All that armor, however, has pushed its weight over 68 tons, and it is one of the world’s heaviest main battle tanks. That weight costs it in mobility and transportability.
The weight has also been at odds with India’s infrastructure. Most of the bridges, particularly in Punjab, have a capacity of about 50 tons, making it difficult to move the Arjun across most of India. Its broad tracks do spread the weight a bit, but at a ground pressure of 0.85 kg/cm², its cross-country performance is little better.
Therefore, the Arjun has been deployed mostly in the expansive deserts of Rajasthan, where its size and firepower can be effectively realized to their maximum.
These lessons are already beginning to influence the FRCV program, which seeks to create a next-generation tank weighing less than 55 tons. The Army sees a four-man crew, an autoloader, sophisticated protection systems, drone integration, and tough armor in a lighter package—an onerous balance to achieve.
Though it had issues, the Arjun has managed to prove its worth. It even defeated the Russian T-90 in comparative trials, further validating the reality that India was able to develop rival armor on its own terms.
India is being eyed even in the future. The Arjun is sold to African buyers as an affordable alternative to Russian tanks, opening doors to new markets. With defense exports now a priority area at the national level, the Arjun is still proof of India’s military and industrial ambitions.