India’s Zorawar light tank program, developed by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro, could face a delay of up to two years after the Army sought protection beyond STANAG Level 4. The requirement may move induction from the original 2027 target to 2028 or 2029 as engineers strengthen protection while attempting to keep the tank below 25 tonnes. This weight limit is important for high-altitude operations in areas such as Ladakh and for air transport. STANAG Level 4 is designed to withstand heavy machine-gun fire and mine blasts equivalent to 10kg of TNT, while Levels 5 and 6 provide protection against progressively heavier autocannon and artillery threats but add weight and cost. India plans to acquire 354 Zorawar tanks, with an initial 59 to be built by L&T at Hazira. Developed in 19 months, the tank is designed for Himalayan warfare and uses a John Cockerill 3105 turret with a 105mm autoloading gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm remote weapon station and Nag Mk 2 missile launchers. A 760-hp Cummins diesel and Renk transmission provide speeds up to 70 km/h and a 450km range.
