New Delhi, 28 September 2026: Preparations are underway to make major changes in the armor and protection system of the Indian Army's indigenous 'Zorawar' light tank project. According to sources, the option of preparing the first batch of 59 tanks in two different configurations is being considered, in which a possible division of 18 and 41 is being planned. However, no official confirmation regarding this number and division has been made yet. Zoravar tank has been designed as a light tank with a weight of approximately 25 tonnes. Its main objective is to provide the Indian Army with a lethal capability in areas of high altitude and rough terrain like the Ladakhni LAC, which can be deployed and operated more quickly than heavy tanks.
The original design of the Zoravar was based around frontal protection STANAG 4569 Level-4. But now the Army has demanded to increase this security level to Level-6. This layer is designed to protect the tank against lethal attacks like 30mm APFSDS. However, the biggest challenge here is weight. Adding more armor to the tank will increase its weight. With the increase in weight, its engine and power pack will also need to be upgraded, which can directly impact the tank's mobility, trials and induction timeline.
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What changes will happen in the batch of 59 tanks?
According to sources, one option being considered is to keep the initial tank as per the original 25 tonne design, while the later tanks would be given more armor and a more powerful power pack. In this context, the matter of dividing 59 tanks into two parts has come to light (18 tanks primary configuration and 41 tanks upgraded configuration).
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Army requires a total of 354 'Zorawar' tanks
The Indian Army requires a total of 354 light tanks. Out of which the initial 59 tanks are being developed jointly by DRDO and L&T. Whereas for the remaining 295 tanks, competitive tendering process will be conducted among private companies under 'Make-I' process. The Zoravar tank incorporates modern surveillance, communication and battlefield situational awareness capabilities with a 105mm main gun.
- Strong challenge against China's Type-15 tank
China already has Type-15/ZTQ-15 light tanks available in East Ladakh and other high altitude areas. The excellent mobility of light tanks is considered extremely important in such difficult terrain. To counter this Chinese tank, Zoravar is being developed with lower weight and better power-to-weight ratio.
- Possibility of joining the army by 2028-29
According to army sources, Zoravar tank is likely to be formally inducted into the army during 2028-29. For this, user evaluation and successful trials will be necessary. Maintaining the right balance between security and mobility will now be the most important issue for the Army.