India
Vijayanta Under an agreement signed in 1961 India began the development with Vickers Defence Systems of its own indigenous tank production facility. The vehicle chosen for procurement was the Vijayanta (Indian name meaning Victorious) which was based on the Vickers Defence Systems Mk 1 BMT design. This was essentially a lighter version of the successful Centurion model with a stabilised 105 mm L7 series rifled main gun with the engine, transmission, fire control system and running gear of the early Chieftain models. The first 90 vehicles were built in the UK and delivered to the Indian Army in 1967 to equip two Armoured Regiments: the 2nd Lancers and the 65th Armoured Regiment. The remainder of the 1400
odd vehicles were built over the period 1965-1983 atthe Avadi Heavy Vehicles plant in India. The first Indian built Viyajantas were issued to the 67th Armoured Regiment. By the December 1971 War with Pakistan the Indian army had six regiments of Vijayantas available: The 65th Armoured Regiment, 67th Armoured Regiment, 68th Armoured Regiment and 2nd Lancers all with the 1st Armoured Brigade, 1 st Armoured Division as part of the uncommitted Indian Army HO reserve - the division being rounded out by the 43 Lorried Infantry Brigade with 1 Sikh, 1 Jat and 1 Garwhal (Mechanised) Infantry Battalions equipped with OT-62 Topas tracked APCs, the divisional artillery with British Abbot 105 mm self-
propelled guns and the 93rd Independent Armoured Reconnaissance Squadror with AMX-ISs to provide close and medium reconnaissance; the 66th Armoured Regiment (as divisional armour for the 15th Infantry Division); and the 8th Light Cavalry (as part of the 3rd Armoured Brigade with the T-55 equipped Centra] India House and 72nd Armoured Regiments, and the 7th Grenadiers (Mechanised) Infantry Battalion using BTR-60 wheeled APCs). In the early nineties the Indian Army decided to implement a long-standing upgrade programme for the Vijayanta, Up to 1100 vehicles may be involved with the installation of a T-72 power pack, a Serbian SUV-T55A fire control system, additional armour and new night vision
