After Arjun mk-1 failed to meet Army standard DRDO developed new MK 2 version of Arjun,Which will have more advanced features than previous version,once its completed it will be one of the modern tanks available world wide
some features:
1)It will be 66 ton Tank compared to 58 ton Arjun MK-1
2)DRDO will produce indigenous engine for MK 2 which will have maximum speed of 60 km/hr compared to 40 km/hr of MK-1 version
3)Arjun MK 2 will have more than 93 upgrades including the following:
- Ability to fire Anti-tank missile through main gun
- Extra protection for crew through explosive reactive armor(ERA)
- Thermal imaging system to scan and detect targets at night
- An automatic target tracking (ATT) to make accurate firing on moving targets
- Advanced Air defense gun which is capable to shoot down Helicopters
- Enhanced auxiliary power unit (APU) with a capability of 8.5 kw(compared to 4.5 kw of mk-1 version)
- Mine Plough
- Advanced land navigation system
- Digital control harness.
- Improved gun barrel with an Equivalent Firing Charge (strength of the barrel to sustain firing) of 500 rounds against T 72's 250 rounds.
- Indigenous engine will replace the German engine of the 58-tonne Arjun Mark-I.
5)Night sight of Arjun is developed by OIP senser systems of Belgium and SAGEM (France).once spotted target is electronically allocated to gunner for engagement and it will enable the commander to search for other targets
6)An "un-cooled thermal imaging sight,developed by Instrument R&D located at Dehradun allows the driver to see upto 300-500 m. even on a pitch dark night
7)It will have a laser warning system possibly developed by Elbit systems of Israel.Which having capability to 360 degree coverage and detects all type of missiles.it will give upto 10-15 minuts for crew to take enough countermeasures(including smoke grande,smoke screen will distract the other tank crew
8)It may be fitted with Iron APS(Active protection system developed by IMI,it will protect the tank from firing and missiles including RPG
9)cost:37 crores
10)on June-2011 the Mk-II begun to undergo trials at Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan,It will be inducted to Army on 2013-2014 period
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sources:
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1)ID P Sent inel
2)DRDO(features)
3)http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2011/11/heavier-more-lethal-arjun-tank-poised.html(image)
4)GOI press release
5)Business Standard
5)Business Standard