Zorawar: India's Indigenous Light Tank Designed for High-Altitude Warfare
India's first indigenous light tank, Zorawar, designed for high-altitude combat, was spotlighted during PM Modi's talks with Belgium's PM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted India's first indigenous light tank, Zorawar, during delegation-level talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in New Delhi on Thursday. De Wever's three-day official visit, the first by a Belgian PM in two decades, underscored the growing defence collaboration between the two nations.
Zorawar, developed in just 19 months, is engineered specifically for high-altitude warfare in the Himalayas. Weighing around 25 tonnes, it is lighter than comparable tanks yet retains significant firepower. Its design allows for operation in extreme terrain and low-oxygen conditions, making it a critical asset for mountain warfare.
The tank's mobility is a key feature. It can be fully airlifted by C-17 Globemaster aircraft, achieving speeds up to 70 km/h with a range of 450 km. It uses hydropneumatic suspension for rugged terrain and is powered by a Cummins 760hp diesel engine paired with a Renk transmission.
Its firepower is anchored by a Belgian John Cockerill 3105 turret, mounting a 105mm rifled gun with an autoloader. It also includes a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon station, and twin launchers capable of firing Nag Mk2 anti-tank guided missiles.
The tank is named after General Zorawar Singh, a 19th-century Dogra Army general known as the 'Conqueror of Ladakh', connecting the platform to the region where it is intended to operate.
Historically, India has relied on light tanks in this region, from the Stuart light tank used to capture the Zoji La pass in 1948 to the AMX-13 in Chushul in 1962 and the Chhamb sector in 1965.
Zorawar prototypes have completed high-altitude trials in Nyoma, Ladakh, at over 4,200 metres, successfully firing multiple rounds. The Indian Army has placed an initial order for 59 tanks against a total requirement of 354, with a competition expected for the remaining 295. The government has cleared a requirement for seven regiments of light tanks, with induction expected in 2027.