By : Rediff


Almost 24 years after its first prototype rolled out, the country's indigenous main battle tank Arjun on Wednesday underwent baptism by fire as it took part for the first time in the biggest Indian Army exercises in the 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 the month-long exercises 'Ashwamedha'.

Army Chief General J J Singh, who witnessed the wargames close to Pakistan border, said, "The 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," the army chief told reporters.