As it stands, the Arjun has undergone trials for battlefield acceptance. However, the system has fallen well short of expectations with deficiencies in its fire control system as related to accuracy, consistent engine failures, poor speed and suspension troubles. The tank has also had issues when operating in the hot regional temperatures. These issues, along with cost overruns, have forced the Indian government to cast its disappointment with India's first indigenous tank design to that point that the Ministry of Defense has looked outwardly to fulfill India's tank needs. It was last reported that "some" progress had been made in rectifying the Arjun's shortfalls.
With the Arjun program moving along at a such a slow pace, it has been decided by the government to purchase large quantities of Russian-made T-90 main battle tanks for the interim - at least 347 are to be imported - a move no doubt spurred along by Pakistan's increasingly numeric armored forces. License production of the T-90 has also been granted to India to locally produce the Russian tank. As it stands, some 32 pre-production Arjun vehicles have been built along with an initial prototype and 12 follow-up models. A planned 124 is currently still on order, though a vastly lower figure than the original 1,500 to 2,000 tanks envisioned at the projects beginning.
With this joint partnership between Russia and India, Russia has offered its design arm to help in a new next-generation Indian tank venture, announced in 2008. The system is expect to be made ready by 2020 which could effectively spell the end of the Arjun.
With so much promise and optimism for India's first home-grown tank, the project has fallen into a sad state of affairs. When first unveiled, it was compared favorably to the western M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 series of tanks - those tanks themselves were designs with origins in the 1970s - but with the current pace of Arjun development, the system will be viewed as obsolete by most should she ever see operational service. If production is truly capped at 124 examples, her reach will in no way compare favorably to other more successful tanks in her class.
Update January 2014:
To date, some 125 of the Arjun tank line have been produced and these of the Mk I model series. The Indian Army has contracted for a further 124 tanks of the Mk II model series. Formal entry for the tank line was in 2004 with the 43rd Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army Armoured Corps being the recipient. Testing in the spring of 2010 saw the Arjun compare favorably to the Russian T-90 MBT which proved a good sign for the Indian product. The vehicle proved capabilities in hitting moving targets, wading through deep water sources and traversing cross country.
The Mk II model was unveiled in 2011 as an improved variant. Trials for the type began in the middle of 2011 and included evaluation of a night vision system, improved ammunition and gun laying, support for Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks, improved navigation suite and increased missile firing capabilities. Overall power has been increased while overall weight slightly reduced. Testing continued into 2012 which allowed the Indian Army to further evaluate the incoming model which ultimately led to the added procurement contract for new vehicles. As it stands, the Mk II model is a vast, more refined upgrade, to the original Arjun line and promises a better return on investment when compared to the original offering.
It is expected that the Indian Army will purchase at least 300 Arjun Mk II tanks.
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