ArjunMk 1, 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 selfpropelled 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

India

and vehicle navigation systems.

A lengthened Vijayanta chassis has been produced for use with the 130 mm M-46 gun. The 100 or so selfpropelled guns are known as the HT-130 Catapult and were followed by an AVLB version fitted with a 20 x 4 metre-wide scissors bridge. Known as the Kartik this has been produced to supplement the existing Indian Army MT-55 bridgelayer tanks.

Other Vijayanta variants produced include an ARV version for use with the Vijayanta Armoured Regiments and a bulldozer version for preparing fire positions and crossing anti-tank obstacles.

Vijayanta was replaced on the Avadi production line by a license built version of the Russian T-72M1 MET known as the Ajeya, the first being delivered in 1988.

By 1996, and including the original 500 direct delivery T-72G/T-72M1 (of which the first arrived in mid-1979 and were delivered to the 7th Cavalry Regiment in October of that year), a total of over 1600 were in service. These vehicles are to undergo a major upgrade.

The T-72 chassis has been chosen for the basis of the Indian Army's 155 mm selfpropelled howitzer programme. A turret type is being chosen to fit on the chassis.

The Indian Army is also building the Slovakian VT-72B ARV under license and has built an armoured bridge-layer on the T-72 chassis

Specification

First prototype: 1963 First production: 1964-1983 (over 2000 gun tanks built) Current user: India

Crew: 4

Combat weight: 40 500 kg Ground pressure: 0.89 kg/cm2

Length, gun forwards: 9.8 m Width (over skirts): 3.17 m Height (without AA gun): 2.44 m

Max. road speed: 48 km/h Maximum road range: 350 km Fording: unprepared 1.3 m

Gradient: 60%

Side slope: 30%

Vertical obstacle: 0.91 m Trench: 2.44m

Powerpack: Leyland multi-fuel L60 diesel developing 535 hp and coupled to an SCG SN12 semi-automatic transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 105 mm gun (44 rounds); (ranging) 1 x 12.7 mm MG (being replaced by modern fire control systems); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (smoke dischargers) 2 x6