Article Posted on : - May 24, 2010

Prototype of Arjun MK2

NEW DELHI (PTI): Looking to strengthen its armoured capabilities, the Indian Army wants its futuristic Main Battle Tank to be equipped with high-powered lasers for taking on enemy rockets, aircraft and electro-optical sensors.

"High/medium-energy level laser is expected to be a lethality option against rockets, air vehicles, light ground vehicles, antennas of armoured vehicles and electro-optical sensors," the Army stated in its long-term technology plans submitted to the Defence Ministry.

Officials said concerned DRDO labs are already working in this direction and developing the capability.

They added that these capabilities might be deployed on the Arjun Mk-II project, which was recently cleared by the Defence Ministry after the Army decided to place orders for another 124 Arjun MBTs with the DRDO.

It also wants the futuristic Main Battle Tank (FMBT) to have an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system to decrease chances of own tanks firing at each other during battle.

The Army wants the new tank to have stealth technologies in form of paints and materials to provide limited invisibility and for scrambling and avoidance of detection by enemy sensors.

It also seeks technologies which would enable officials sitting in operational headquarters to have video conferences with the tank commanders in field.

The Army wants the DRDO and the defence industry to provide it with technologies which would help the new FMBT protection against hard-kill weapons such as the Anti-tank Guided missiles, missiles and artillery shells.

The Indian Army has a fleet of over 3,000 tanks in its fleet, which includes a majority of Russian-origin T-72 and T-55, which are likely to be replaced in the near future.