India’s new light tank has completed its first live-fire trials and is expected to undergo limited user testing in the coming months. The Zorawar light tank has completed its first live-fire trials, marking a significant milestone in developing the nation’s Indigenous light tank program. The trials in desert conditions demonstrated the tank’s firepower and agility. The Zorawar is designed to address the needs of India’s army in mountainous and high-altitude borders like Ladakh and the northeast, where traditional heavy tanks struggle to perform. The Chinese already have the T-15 light tank deployed along their southern border with India.
Equipped with a 105mm gun and advanced targeting systems, the 25-ton Zorawar is optimized for operations at high altitudes and in extreme weather, providing crucial support to infantry units in remote areas. Compared to modern main battle tanks weighing more than twice the Zorawar’s weight, it can move faster over more bridges and roads, delivering fire support and anti-tank capabilities to mountain troops and mechanized forces. The new tank was developed by the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) with Larsen & Turbo (L&T) as the private sector lead systems integrator and industrial partner. The company has already received the initial order for 59 tanks. The subsequent batches will be re-competed by local industries under the Make-in-India scheme.
The successful trials bring the tank closer to full production, with the first example out of the 350-unit production series expected by 2025.
