It was a pleasure to see Tank Ex (experimental) rolling down the Rajpath today. Many would have wondered the status of the tank and the reason why it is getting displayed on the Republic Day parade. One thought might arise, is it going to be inducted in Army? As of now, certainly not.
Tank-Ex is a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) product or idea. It’s a huge advertising opportunity to showcase it. If Indian Army is not going to induct it, then why display it? To understand it, we need to know its history.
Before that, since I mentioned Indian Army, let me put up my favorite saying’s on Indian Army on records. Mercifully, Tank – Ex is not an Indian Army requirement/product like Arjun tank. Tank-Ex is fortunately not going to witness the Indian Army unprofessional attitude as it displayed on the Arjun Tank project and it’s even more fortunate that Indian Army has already asked “we didn’t ask it, why you made it?” I hope I am clear that Tank Ex has got nothing to do with Indian Army and very good chances that it won’t. If ever has anything to do it Indian Army, god save it.
In the Defence Expo, 2004, Tank Ex was displayed for the first time. George Fernandes, the then defence minister standing on the top of the tank along with DRDO officials asked them the purpose of the tank model. The DRDO officials replied by saying that there are many T-72 tanks around the world that will be available for upgrades; Tank-Ex is an ideal choice.
Tank-Ex is popularly known as T-72 chassis and Arjun Tank turret. This is correct in principal but bit different in implementation. Arjun Turret is 20 tons and Arjun has 4 man crew, so how would Arjun Turret fit into a 3 man T-72 Tank? Arjun Turret has manual loading and the crew except driver sits inside. Some times Tank-Ex is called Karna, which is not true; karma was T-72 chassis with Arjun Turret and meant for testing platform for Arjun, it was very crude. Probably Tank-Ex evolved from there.
Arjun Tank Turret like most 55 ton + tank turrets has many advanced features. Arjun Tank also has many advanced electronics add-ons and a very good gun. The first task was to reduce the weight of the Arjun Turret for T-72 use. The armor of the Arjun Turret was rationalized and hence it brought down the weight of the Turret. An autoloader can be installed into the turret. The two changes along with advanced addon’s and Arjun Tank Gun will make it a very potent upgrade for T-72 tanks worldwide.
Along with Tank-Ex, DRDO has many technologies and service that can be ideally exported. DRDO has put up a request with the defence ministry to export its products. Unless India comes up with a credible arms export policy, the Tank-Ex potential will remain a potential. Meanwhile Tank-Ex is an DRDO research product and it has every right to parade it in front of the nation.
