In order to equip the Indian armed forces adequately along the India-China border, (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will co-develop an indigenous light tank that is optimised for the extreme cold and high altitude conditions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), or in-principle agreement, for seven light tank regiments, each equipped with 45 tanks.
The AoN requires L&T to build one regiment of light tanks, while the MoD acquires the other six regiments under the “Make” procedure reported Business Standard.
The light tank will have a hull, co-developed by DRDO and L&T, that will house an 800 horsepower engine optimised for high altitudes. The engine will be provided by German firm MTU, which is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.
The hull will be mounted with 105-millimetre gun turret, procured ready-built from Belgian firm, John Cockerill the report added further.