FMBT to focus on weight reduction of battle tanks, says DRDO chief

[ROCKETRAJA]

Published January 6, 2013 | By admin
SOURCE: EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MK-II variant of Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun has entered into the user trial phase and DRDO is looking at the Futuristic Main Battle Tank (FMBT) project aimed at reducing the weight of the battle tanks, said DRDO chief V K Saraswat, who was in the city to attend the valedictory function of Post Induction Training School (POINTS) – 17 at the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) at Girinagar in Khadakwasla.

Talking to the reporters Saraswat said, “The trials of MK-II variant MBT Arjun are expected to be complete within a year after which we will be in a position to produce 300 to 400 units for the Army.” On being asked about FMBT he said, “The idea is to reduce the weight of the tank. Developed nations such as the United States of America and Israel have been working on reducing the weights of battle tanks. Heavy weights of tanks affect their maneuverability. We are therefore looking to reduce the weight of FMBT to 50 tonnes each.”

Commenting on the Indian Operating System (OS), Saraswat said that Indian OS is relevant in the time of cyber warfare and the DRDO has set a time-frame of three years for the project to materialise. About 250 outstanding senior faculty members from important Institutions such as IITs, IISc, NITs, DIAT and other institutes of national importance along with scientist faculties from various DRDO labs/establishments and Armed Forces have delivered customised lectures during this POINTS – 17 programme, a press release issued by press Information Bureau said.

 

[IND151]

Most Important Part

Talking to the reporters Saraswat said, “The trials of MK-II variant MBT Arjun are expected to be complete within a year after which we will be in a position to produce 300 to 400 units for the Army.” On being asked about FMBT he said, “The idea is to reduce the weight of the tank. Developed nations such as the United States of America and Israel have been working on reducing the weights of battle tanks. Heavy weights of tanks affect their maneuverability. We are therefore looking to reduce the weight of FMBT to 50 tonnes each.”

BTW FMBT was canceled. But this news suggests otherwise

 

[Koovie]

Most Important Part

Talking to the reporters Saraswat said, “The trials of MK-II variant MBT Arjun are expected to be complete within a year after which we will be in a position to produce 300 to 400 units for the Army.” On being asked about FMBT he said, “The idea is to reduce the weight of the tank. Developed nations such as the United States of America and Israel have been working on reducing the weights of battle tanks. Heavy weights of tanks affect their maneuverability. We are therefore looking to reduce the weight of FMBT to 50 tonnes each.”

BTW FMBT was canceled. But this news suggests otherwise

yet, only 124 Arjun MKII are ordered.

 

[sancho]

Most Important Part

Talking to the reporters Saraswat said, “The trials of MK-II variant MBT Arjun are expected to be complete within a year after which we will be in a position to produce 300 to 400 units for the Army.” On being asked about FMBT he said, “The idea is to reduce the weight of the tank. Developed nations such as the United States of America and Israel have been working on reducing the weights of battle tanks. Heavy weights of tanks affect their maneuverability. We are therefore looking to reduce the weight of FMBT to 50 tonnes each.”

BTW FMBT was canceled. But this news suggests otherwise

Please keep in mind who is talking here! He always is dreaming about what DRDO might provide, or what Indian forces might procure. They might be able to produce 300 or 400 of them, but that doesn't mean IA will order it and what I don't understand is, why is he thinking about FMBT and weight reductions, when it should be more important to reduce the weight of Arjun MBT, to increase the orders? Just the same silly way as with LCA / AMCA, MMR / AESA radar, or DRDO AWACS, they don't finish things and make then successful, but simply switch to the next project!

 

[Koovie]

Please keep in mind who is talking here! He always is dreaming about what DRDO might provide, or what Indian forces might procure. They might be able to produce 300 or 400 of them, but that doesn't mean IA will order it and what I don't understand is, why is he thinking about FMBT and weight reductions, when it should be more important to reduce the weight of Arjun MBT, to increase the orders? Just the same silly way as with LCA / AMCA, MMR / AESA radar, or DRDO AWACS, they don't finish things and make then successful, but simply switch to the next project!

Thats true, but keep in mind that these guys are working underpaid with a small budget of just 1.9 billion dollars.

 

[Sergi]

Thats true, but keep in mind that these guys are working underpaid with a small budget of just 1.9 billion dollars.

Well then actually we should focus on completing existing projects before we come up with Next of the best
Instrad of whole new FMBT with reduced weight. How about reducing Arjun's weight ???

There was news from army about scrapping FMBT and continue with Arjun development. Was that rumor or Mr. Saraswat is trolling AGIAN

 

[ApparentRaceTraitor]

Wait wasnt FMBT shelved in favor of mark 3,4,etc versions of the Arjun? Or more miscommunication b/w DRDO and the IA?

 

[IND151]

Well then actually we should focus on completing existing projects before we come up with Next of the best
Instrad of whole new FMBT with reduced weight. How about reducing Arjun's weight ???

There was news from army about scrapping FMBT and continue with Arjun development. Was that rumor or Mr. Saraswat is trolling AGIAN

Hard to say.

http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rc...Kr2LHUXs_IF76f0j0Iflg&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.bmk

Army, instaed of FMBT, wants a new version of Arjun.

Senior army sources tell Business Standard that the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces (DGMF), which oversees the army’s tank force, has formally proposed that the Arjun be gradually improved through successive models --- Mark II, Mark III, Mark IV and so on --- rather than attempting a major technological leap into the unknown, which is what the FMBT would be.


Three important realizations drive the DGMF’s new proposal. Firstly, there is growing acceptance of the Arjun, after its strong performance in field trials. Secondly, the need for an industrial “eco-structure” for providing spares and maintenance backup for the Arjuns that are already operating. This would come up only if a viable number of tanks are in service. Finally, the DGMF believes that there are no recent breakthrough technologies in armored vehicle design, which eliminates the logic for building an entirely new tank.

 

[Sergi]

Hard to say.

http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rc...Kr2LHUXs_IF76f0j0Iflg&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.bmk

Army, instaed of FMBT, wants a new version of Arjun.

I knew that but Mr. Saraswat think otherwise let's see who's right and who's trolling

 

[sancho]

Thats true, but keep in mind that these guys are working underpaid with a small budget of just 1.9 billion dollars.

Buddy, a small budget can't be the reason to give promises that you can't keep. This guy is constantly promising things and taking decisions that are clearly out of DRDOs reach and that is the real problem. Realistically nobody expects wonders from them or ADA, but when they claim they can do it and can't keep it up, they must be hold responsible and we shouldn't look for excuses instead.

 

[faithfulguy]

Please keep in mind who is talking here! He always is dreaming about what DRDO might provide, or what Indian forces might procure. They might be able to produce 300 or 400 of them, but that doesn't mean IA will order it and what I don't understand is, why is he thinking about FMBT and weight reductions, when it should be more important to reduce the weight of Arjun MBT, to increase the orders? Just the same silly way as with LCA / AMCA, MMR / AESA radar, or DRDO AWACS, they don't finish things and make then successful, but simply switch to the next project!

For the main line tanks and jet fighters, India is correctly relying on imported weapons anyway. Such as T-90 and Su3MKI.

Thats true, but keep in mind that these guys are working underpaid with a small budget of just 1.9 billion dollars.

Its time for India to pay the its engineers big bucks. Why not find out what are the bank accounts of the corrupt Indian officials and transfer the funds to the hard working Indian engineers instead.

 

[Alfa-Fighter]

For the main line tanks and jet fighters, India is correctly relying on imported weapons anyway. Such as T-90 and Su3MKI.

Some other countries who so called themselves advance then india also relies on Russian Planes SU-27.

Its time for India to pay the its engineers big bucks. Why not find out what are the bank accounts of the corrupt Indian officials and transfer the funds to the hard working Indian engineers instead.

research take times.

 

[jaiind]

For the main line tanks and jet fighters, India is correctly relying on imported weapons anyway. Such as T-90 and Su3MKI.

look who is talking on what?? some one had made all clone copies of russian stuff,derivatives of old tech,and still not satisfied with the work they did. Now relying on the russian stuff..

PLA signs preliminary deal for 24 Russian Su-35 jet fighters | South China Morning Post