Arjun Tanks Tested in Ashwamedh War Games; Performance Evaluated: Army Chief

Arjun Tanks Tested in Ashwamedh War Games; Performance Evaluated: Army Chief

Almost 24 years after its first prototype rolled out, the country's indigenous main battle tank (MBT) Arjun today underwent baptism by fire as it took part for the first time in the biggest Indian army exercises in last two years.14 Arjun tanks crossed swords with the 100s of Russian-supplied T-90 and T-72 tanks in the final phase of month-long exercises 'Ashwamedha' and the Army Chief Gen JJ Singh, who witnessed the war games close to Pakistan border, said "performance of the tanks would be analysed".Notwithstanding the indigenous tanks taking part for the first time in the exercises in which live ammunition was used, Singh said Arjun would still have to go through comparative trials with Russian tanks later this year."The comparative trials would clear the induction of the first batch of Arjuns," senior officers told PTI. DRDO's Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi has rolled out and handed over 15 tanks to the Army for evaluation.DRDO officials said that only after certification by the Army, a go ahead would be given for full commercial production of 124 Arjun tanks."Arjun tanks were fielded in the exercise to test their capability and to see how best to deploy them" Army Chief told reporters.