Why DRDO Took Decades to Build India's Arjun Tank: Ravi Gupta, Former DRDO Scientist

The Arjun Main Battle Tank is an indigenous weapon platform designed by the DRDO to provide India with self-reliant armored capabilities. Sanctioned in 1974, it was engineered to balance firepower, protection, and mobility specifically for Indian terrain. The tank features a 120mm main gun capable of firing diverse ammunition such as thermobaric rounds and anti-tank guided missiles. It utilizes indigenously developed Kanchan composite armor reinforced with Explosive Reactive Armor to withstand modern warheads. Its hydro-pneumatic suspension offers superior stabilization and allows for a pivot turn capability, earning it the nickname "Desert Ferrari" for its agility.

Former DRDO scientist Ravi Gupta attributes the project's extended timeline to complex, evolving technical requirements. He notes that frequent revisions to the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR), such as the significant transition from a 105mm to a 120mm gun, necessitated major redesigns. Gupta indicates that rigid bureaucratic structures and the parallel import of T-90 tanks influenced indigenous production scales. Consequently, the Arjun underwent exhaustive validation, covering 70,000 kilometers in trials to prove its reliability within the procurement framework.