Arjun MBT Mk II gears up for final leg of user trials

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Defence scientists of Avadi-based Combat Vehicle Research Development Establishment (CVRDE) are all set to take India's Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) Mk II for the concluding phases of user trials. As per the schedule, the prototype of Arjun MBT Mk II will have to undergo five phases of user trials, out of which three have been completed at the Mahajan and Pokhran Field Firing Ranges.

CVRDE Director Dr P Sivakumar, told Express on Thursday that in the fourth phase of trial, the tank will have to be tested for obstacle crossing and medium fording (water) capabilities. "The concluding phases of the user trials will begin in May 2014. There are 89 improvements being undertaken on the Mk II tank, out of which 74 are related to tank-fittable ones and the remaining 15 are other improvements such as ammunition development,” Dr Sivakumar said.

CVRDE, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Establishment, got on to mission mode to develop the upgraded version of Arjun MBT in 2010 and rolled out the first prototype within two years, for User trials. The Arjun Mk II is heavier by five tonnes when compared to Mk I, which is 62.5 tonnes. "So far the prototype tank has covered over 5000 km as part of DRDO and user trials. We have extensively conducted the validation of all the improvements prior to each phase of user trials," says Balamurugan V, Additional Director, Project Arjun, CVRDE.

It was during the recent Republic Day Parade that Arjun MBT Mk II was first exhibited for the general public. The tank is also being exhibited at the DefExpo-2014 which began in Delhi on Thursday. Arjun MBT Mk I is already in service with the Indian Army. Banking on indicators, DRDO is expecting additional orders for Arjun Mk II by early next year. DRDO says that Arjun MBT Mk II is substantially cheaper than contemporary tanks in its class to meet the battlefield challenges of the 21st century.

However, Army sources say that a few of the improvements need to be further refined. Sources said that the missile (Israeli LAHAT) firing trials need to be conducted again for further validation. DRDO says it is confident that the Arjun MBT Mk II will prove its worth in the final leg of the user trials.

Major improvements on Arjun MBT Mk II

* Advanced running gear system

* New track system with increased horn height

* New final drive with increased reduction ratio

* Containerised ammunition bin with individual shutters

* Roof mounted driver’s seat

* Incorporation of explosive reactive armour panels

* Track width mine plough with magnetic signature duplicator

* Commander’s panoramic sight Mk-II

* Automatic target tracker through gunner’s main sight

* Driver’s night sight/un-cooled thermal imager

* Advanced land navigation system

* Power-driven air defence gun system

* Laser warning and countermeasure system

* Missile firing through main gun

* Effective alternate to muzzle reference system

Copyright@The New Indian Express

DRDO all set for summer trials of Unmanned Ground Vehicles

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi-based (near Chennai) DRDO lab, is warming up to take two of its unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for summer trials in the next two months. CVRDE Director Dr P Sivakumar told Express on Friday that the UGVs -- Muntra-N (designed for NBC -- Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical reconnaissance) and Muntra-M (designed for mine detection missions) are currently undergoing lab level trials at Avadi ahead of the summer trials. DRDO had exhibited Muntra-S (meant for surveillance) during the DefExpo in 2012 and the scientists say that the vehicle has already completed the desert trials successfully. Muntra stands for Mission Unmanned Tracked.
Sanctioned with a seed money of Rs 60 crore in 2007, the project consists of four vehicles, with three in the unmanned role and the fourth one in a manned mode (Muntra-B), doing the base control duties. "Muntra-B will be common for all missions depending upon the role. In 2012, during the field trials, Muntra-S operated at very high temperatures in Rajasthan deserts. We tele-operated Muntra-S from a distance of 5 km and it tracked a tank further at a distance of 12 km. The radar has an instrumented range of 18 km. During the trials, we undertook day and night surveillance and tele-operated the vehicle back to the base as well," Dr Sivakumar said.
In 2013, CVRDE began the integration of UGVs Muntra-M and Muntra-N with a series of lab-level tests. The UGVs can perform in tele-operated, autonomous and manned modes. "All vehicles are based on the battle proven BMP II class of tracked armoured vehicles. In addition to being an all terrain vehicle, these vehicles have an inherent amphibious capability, thus making a UGV based on these vehicles a highly potent and versatile unmanned platform," Sivakumar added.
Currently, the DRDO and the Army are holding talks on the UGV philosophy. The Army is already using manned vehicles for NBC reconnaissance missions and the DRDO is strongly pitching with the idea of having UGVs as well for the said roles. "At present, this project has been conceived and developed by the DRDO as a prospective futuristic technology with immense operational potential. It has not yet gone into a mission mode project phase, which is expected only after we receive Army's requirements," says Swarna Ramesh, Additional Director (Robotics), CVRDE. She said that the Medak-based (near Hyderabad) Ordnance Factory has the expertise in rolling out the BMP-2 under transfer of technology from Russians. "The main aim of the UGVs are to save precious human lives in a war scenario. It can be used for peacetime operations as well for urban and civilian purposes with modifications," she added.
HOW IT WORKS: To facilitate the operation of the UGVs from a distance through wireless means (tele-operation), a drive-by-wire system enables the control of the conventional UGV engine by electronic means. The tele-operation system enables the base vehicle operator to navigate the UGV with the help of opto-electronic sensors mounted on the UGV. Information about the obstacles and other features around the UGV is gathered by these sensors and this information is displayed at the base vehicle on ergonomically designed display systems.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Video of Arjun Catapult trials at Mahajan Field Firing Range

DRDO to unveil catapult gun system built on Arjun MBT Mk-I chassis | First public display likely at Defexpo | GSQR trials in May

The catapult during various field development trials. Photos: CVRDE

 By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is all set to unveil a 130 mm (Self Propelled) Catapult Gun System built based on the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) MK-1 chassis. Developed by Avadi-based (near Chennai), the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), a DRDO lab, the Arjun Catapult is likely to be displayed for the first time in public during the Defexpo India-2014, being held in Delhi from February 6-9, subject to security clearance.

CVRDE Director Dr P Sivakumar told Express on Wednesday that the catapult has adopted advanced technologies of Arjun MBT automotive system along with 130 mm (SP) M-46 gun system. “It offers the users in the battle field a self propelled system with excellent fire power, high mobility and required protection. The catapult would fulfil the interim and immediate requirements of Artillery to replace two Regiments holding Vijayanta Catapult Guns, there by extending the life of 130 mm guns,” Dr Sivakumar said. Tipped as the fastest realisation project of DRDO, the Arjun Catapult had its first field development trials in November 2012, four moths after receiving the Army requirement.

Developed at a cost of Rs 15 crore, the gun and related ordnance systems for the catapult was supplied free of cost by the Indian Army. Currently, the CVRDE has developed one catapult for user evaluation trials. Army has intended to place an order for 40 catapult gun systems. A user-assisted General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR ) trials of the system is likely to to be held at the Pokharan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan during April-May. Some new features of Arjun MBT MK-II being incorporated into the catapult systems, will also be evaluated during the crucial GSQR trials. He added that the 'remarkable mobility and the agility' of the catapult were mainly due to the high-performance 1030 kW engine, robust transmission system and a flexible hydro-pneumatic suspension, among others.

“The catapult can engage enemy artillery systems, heavy tanks and mortars. It can annihilate enemy manpower and tanks at their concentration area. It can also destroy permanent earth defensive installations and other strong field type fortifications in addition to shelling enemy rear installations,” says K Sreethar, Head, Artillery, CVRDE.

He said the Arjun Catapult has better stability, accuracy and consistency. “The gun barrel is mainly used to engage in indirect fire up to a maximum range of 27.4 km. The gun can also be fired directly on targets up to 1.4 km range. It can be fired at various angles of elevation as well. The catapult has STANAG Level II protection (a NATO standardisation agreement) for the crew from the side as well as from the top. It has low silhouette and has integrated fire fighting detection and suppression system,” he further said.

Ergonomics using anthropometric data of Indian troops has been kept in view while designing the fighting and engine compartments and maximum possible protection to crew have been ensured. Embedded with a global positioning system, the catapult is armed with night vision devices for both the driver and the commander.

SALIENT FEATURES: High power to weight ratio | Excellent ride comfort | Indirect and direct firing capability | Rapid deployment and quick displacement | Long range | STANAG Level-II protection | Automatic fire detection and suppression systems |GPS display for commander and driver | STARS V Mk-II radio set | Crew intercommunication

Copyright@The New Indian Express