India’s Zorawar light tank faces protection and performance trade-off

India's Zorawar light tank program is facing a critical design challenge in upgrading protection without sacrificing mobility. The Indian Army requires stronger armour to resist more powerful ammunition and threats. Development is ongoing by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Larsen & Toubro, with an expected service entry around 2028-2029. A phased approach might help balance initial production with future upgrades for protection.

The Zorawar tank was designed to dominate the high-altitude battlefields, such as those in Eastern Ladakh and Sikkim.

India’s Zorawar light tank programme faces a key design challenge as the Army seeks stronger armour protection without compromising the mobility required for high-altitude operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The proposed changes could increase the tank’s weight, require a more powerful engine and affect its induction timeline, with the programme now expected to enter service around 2028-2029, according to reports.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Zorawar was conceived after the 2020 India-China border confrontation in eastern Ladakh. China’s deployment of Type 15 light tanks highlighted the need for an Indian armoured platform suited to mountainous terrain, where thin air, steep gradients, narrow roads and infrastructure constraints can limit the performance and movement of heavier T-72 and T-90 tanks.

The Zorawar was designed around a combat weight of approximately 25 tonnes, allowing it to combine mobility with firepower and be transported by aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III. It is powered by a Cummins diesel engine rated at around 760 horsepower and carries a 105mm gun in a Belgian-designed Cockerill 3105 turret.

The Army’s reported demand for higher protection would require the tank’s armour to withstand more powerful ammunition. The initial configuration reportedly provides frontal protection to STANAG 4569 Level 4, while the proposed requirements include Level 6 protection against 30mm armour-piercing rounds. Stronger side and rear protection is also under consideration. The challenge is to meet these requirements without significantly reducing the tank’s power-to-weight ratio, acceleration and hill-climbing ability.

An option under consideration is modular armour, including bolt-on ceramic protection, this wouldn't require a complete redesign. Adding armour and a hard-kill active protection system could increase the tank’s weight. If the vehicle grows to 30-32 tonnes, its existing engine may no longer deliver the same level of performance, potentially requiring a more powerful powerpack and additional testing.

China’s Type 15 offers a reference point. It is heavier, at roughly 33-36 tonnes depending on configuration, and uses a 1,000-horsepower engine, a 105mm gun and modular protection. Its design demonstrates that a heavier platform can operate in high-altitude terrain, but Zorawar’s requirements and logistics are different.

The Army plans to acquire 354 light tanks. The first 59 are being developed by DRDO and L&T, while Tata Advanced Systems has emerged as the lowest bidder for the remaining 295, with Mahindra Defence Systems also involved in the competition. A phased approach could allow the initial batch to progress while later vehicles incorporate improved protection. The decision will determine whether Zorawar can improve survivability without losing the mobility that defines its role.