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83-588: The Tank Ex MBT uses the chassis of the T-72M1 (Ajeya) and turret and weapon system of the Arjun. It was developed in 2002 as a private venture and was intended to provide a solution for upgrading the Indian Army's ageing T-72M1 fleet. It was rejected by the Indian Army after eight prototypes and six months of trials. On July 5, 2008, Gen. Dalip Bhardwaj, the Indian Army's Director General of Mechanized forces (DGMF), declared that

166-453: A NSVT 12.7 mm machine gun. Powered by a single MTU multi-fuel diesel engine rated at 1,400 hp, it can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). It has a four-man crew: commander, gunner, loader and driver. In 2010 and 2013, the Indian Army carried out comparative trials in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, pitting

249-483: A power-to-weight ratio of 21 hp (16 kW)/ton for a total weight of 47 tons. This represents an improvement over the T-72M1's 20 hp (15 kW)/ton, with a weight of 41 tons and a 780 hp (582 kW) power plant. The Tank Ex utilizes the Arjun MBT's 120 mm rifled gun firing unitary APFSDS and HESH semi combustible cartridge case ammunition. A total of 32 rounds are carried, as compared with 39 in

332-411: A "system of systems" which integrates sensors and subsystems on board the Arjun to make the tank an efficient fighting machine. The IAVS monitors the data bus that interlaces the hull and turret subsystems, analyses automotive performance and alerts the crew when maintenance is due. The system also integrates the driver's enhanced sight system and provides automated driving. The tank crew interacts with

415-524: A containerised ammunition bin with an individual shutter with blow off panels to mitigate the hazard caused by ammunition cook off. The Arjun MK1A variant tank has a track-width mine plough to reduce the risk of anti-tank mines; the tank also has NBC protection. The Arjun is a heavy main battle tank that moves on seven roadwheels on each side, supported by an indigenously developed hydropneumatic suspension system. Powered by an MTU 838 Ka 501 turbo charged 10 cylinder liquid cooled diesel engine with

498-503: A crew of four—commander, gunner, loader and driver. The Arjun's crew compartment is ergonomically designed for crew safety and comfort and is protected with armour and ERA. In Arjun MK1A, the driver's safety and comfort is enhanced with roof mounted seat to protect him from Shock waves . The Arjun's crew and engine compartments are equipped with an automatic fire detection and suppression system, which detects and suppresses fire within 200 milliseconds, while ammunition rounds are stored in

581-471: A limited production run of the Arjun main battle tank based on the PPS-15 prototype. In 2000, the Indian Army placed an order for the procurement of 124 Arjun MK1 tanks. One Arjun tank (PPS-15) operated by the 43rd Armoured Regiment made a public appearance in the 1997 and 2001 Republic Day Parades . The serial production of the Arjun main battle tank began in 2003 at HVF Avadi . The first tank equipped with

664-671: A local community, the Bishnois , has made special efforts to protect them. Other mammals in the Thar Desert include a subspecies of red fox ( Vulpes vulpes pusilla ) and the caracal , and a number of reptiles dwell there too. The region is a haven for 141 species of migratory and resident desert birds, including harriers , falcons , buzzards , kestrels , vultures , short-toed eagles ( Circaetus gallicus ), tawny eagles ( Aquila rapax ), greater spotted eagles ( Aquila clanga ), and laggar falcons ( Falco jugger ). The Indian peafowl

747-653: A long rod tungsten alloy penetrator was developed and successfully tested by ARDE for the new Alpha variant of the Arjun (MK1A). The new APFSDS Mark 2 round reportedly has improved penetration compared to the extant Mark 1 round. In addition to the existing rounds, the ARDE also developed and successfully tested two high explosive 120 mm rounds for the Arjun: Penetration Cum Blast (PCB) and Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition for urban warfare, which can be fired from existing MK1 and newer MK1A tanks. To enhance

830-602: A minimum range of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) and maximum range of up to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). In addition to the main gun, the Arjun has two machine guns : The Arjun tanks are equipped with an indigenous fire control system developed by BEL, the Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS). The IFCS consists of a digital ballistic computer which cues information from microprocessor-based sensors for wind-speed, tilt angle, target range, vehicle speed etc., to provide an accurate firing solution. The Arjun's IFCS

913-619: A paleo channel of Ghaggar-Hakra River - identified with the paleo Sarasvati River , after confluence with Sutlej flowed into the Nara river - a delta channel of the Indus River , changed its course, leaving the Ghaggar-Hakra as a system of monsoon-fed rivers which did not reach the sea and now ends in the Thar desert. Around 5,000 years ago when the monsoons that fed the rivers diminished further,

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996-411: A rated power output of 1400 hp at 2400 rpm, the tank has a 70-kilometre (43 mi) top speed and a 40-kilometre-per-hour (25 mph) cross country speed. The Arjun tank has a maximum fuel capacity of 1,610 litres (350 imp gal; 430 US gal) and a range of 450 kilometres (280 mi). The latest Arjun MK1A variant retains the 1,400 hp diesel powerplant but with

1079-546: A redesigned hydropneumatic suspension system and new advanced running gear system for optimal performance and efficiency. As of February 2019, reports suggest the engine of MK1A variant will be replaced by the DATRAN 1500 hp engine which is developed by DRDO and currently under testing phase. This is because of the sudden closure of MTU Friedrichshafen's supply chain which is expected to take four years more to restart. Earlier Arjun tanks were equipped with tracks supplied by

1162-451: A variety of guided or unguided anti-armour munitions. The main gun is made from high strength electro-slag remelting (ESR) steel which is insulated with a thermal sleeve and autofrettaged to withstand higher pressure. The newer Arjun MK1A variant retains the 120 mm rifled gun with improved barrel, although India has developed a 125 mm smoothbore gun for the T-90 tank, which

1245-410: Is a major opium production and consumption area. P. cineraria wood is reported to contain high calorific value and provide high-quality fuel wood. The lopped branches are good as fencing material. Its roots also encourage nitrogen fixation, which produces higher crop yields. Desert safaris on camels have become increasingly popular around Jaisalmer. Domestic and international tourists frequent

1328-555: Is a resident breeder in the Thar region. The peacock is designated as the national bird of India and the provincial bird of the Punjab (Pakistan) . It can be seen sitting on khejri or pipal trees in villages or Deblina. The natural vegetation of this dry area is classified as northwestern thorn scrub forest (i.e. small, loosely-scattered patches of greenery). The densities and sizes of these green patches increase from west to east, following an increase in rainfall. The primary vegetation of

1411-399: Is an upcoming fourth generation main battle tank being developed by DRDO for the Indian Army. The NGMBT is designed to be considerably lighter than the earlier Arjun variant and equipped with advanced electro-optical sight systems and possibly a high power laser-based weapon system in addition to the main gun. The type and calibre of the main gun has not been declared yet but according to

1494-530: Is designed for quick target acquisition with "first round-first hit probability" during day and night and in all weather conditions. The Arjun has a gun control system integrated into its 120 mm rifled gun which electro-hydraulically stabilises the gun to retain aim accuracy irrespective of the terrain disturbances (while moving). The two axis-stabilised gun control system interfaced with the IFCS offers high accuracy and slewing speed for engaging moving targets while on

1577-491: Is integrated on Arjun tanks and evaluations were carried out in 2009. The Arjun also has anti-infrared/anti-thermal paints to reduce its IR signature. Active protection is provided by the Advanced Laser Warning Countermeasure System (ALWCS), and consists of four laser warning receivers mounted on the top of the turret to provide 360-degree protection cover. The ALWCS alerts the crew and indicates

1660-577: Is one of the most heavily populated desert areas in the world with the main occupations of its inhabitants being agriculture and animal husbandry. Agricultural production is mainly from kharif crops , which are grown in the summer season and seeded in June and July. These are then harvested in September and October and include bajra , pulses such as guar , jowar ( Sorghum vulgare ), maize ( zea mays ), sesame and groundnuts . The Thar region of Rajasthan

1743-503: Is under license for production. The Arjun MK1 can fire several types of munitions, including indigenously developed armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) and dual purpose high-explosive squash head (HESH) rounds. The Arjun MK1 can carry a mix of 42 APFSDS and HESH rounds in blast-proof canisters with blow out panels. In 2017, the Mark ;2 variant of the APFSDS with

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1826-546: The "Bharat Power Pack" . The planned NGMBT will have a modular design to accommodate emerging technologies. Early in the concept phase, it was decided to begin development of the FMBT only after the completion of the Arjun ;MK1A (previously designated as Arjun MK2). In September 2021, the tank completed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR). 1 × MAG 7.62 mm Tk 715 A 1 × MAG 7.62 mm Tk 715 A Background: History of

1909-624: The Cholistan Desert ). The Indo-Gangetic Plain lies to the north, west and northeast of the Thar desert, the Rann of Kutch lies to its south, and the Aravali Range borders the desert to the east. The most recent paleontological discovery in 2023 from the Thar Desert in India, dating back to 167 million years ago, pertains to a herbivorous dinosaur group known as dicraeosaurids . This discovery marks

1992-547: The Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) was established under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to undertake the development of the Arjun main battle tank and to carry out research and development (R&D) on future combat vehicles for the Indian Army. In 1983, the project began following a consultancy agreement with Krauss-Maffei , who had previously developed

2075-494: The Indian epic poem Mahabharata . Design work began in 1986 and was finished in 1996. The Arjun main battle tank entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The 43rd Armoured Regiment , formed in 2009, was the first regiment to receive the Arjun. The Arjun features a 120 mm rifled main gun with indigenously developed armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot ammunition, one PKT 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and

2158-545: The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) prospered in this area, with the rise of numerous IVC urban sites at Kalibangan ( Rajasthan ), Banawali and Rakhigarhi ( Haryana ), Dholavira and Lothal ( Gujarat ) along this course. 4,000 years ago when monsoons diminished even further, the dried-up Harkra become an intermittent river, and the urban Harappan civilisation declined, becoming localized in smaller agricultural communities. The northeastern part of

2241-612: The LAHAT -launched (Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank gun) anti-tank guided missile was carried out in 2004. By 2006, unit maintenance and unit repair vehicles developed for the Arjun-equipped regiments had been cleared for induction. In 2008, a multi-purpose mobile camouflage system (MCS), developed as part of the Defensive Aid System (DAS) project, had been completed successfully. Field evaluation trials were conducted on

2324-598: The Leopard 2 , to oversee design, development and evaluation, while Indian state owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and HVF were joined with the CVRDE in the development of the Arjun. The original plan envisaged the development and rollout of the first tank prototype by 1980, which was later revised to 1987. The first prototype was delivered in 1989. The prototype tank resembled the Leo2A4 main battle tank of Germany. From 1993 to 1996,

2407-516: The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War , the Government of India decided to develop a new main battle tank. The Indian Army issued a general staff qualitative requirement (GSQR) for a new battle tank, called for a 50 tonne main battle tank equipped with a 120 mm rifled gun, computerised FCS and powered by a 1,400 hp diesel engine. The programme to develop an indigenous tank was authorised in 1974 and funds were released for its development. In 1976,

2490-519: The Arjun MK1 main battle tank in 2009. In 2009, an advanced laser warning countermeasure system (ALWCS) and a fibre-optic gyro -based sensor package unit was developed and integrated on the Arjun MK1 main battle tank after field trials were carried out in two phases from May to August 2009. The first batch of the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) developed recoil system for

2573-533: The Arjun MK1A variant, the driver has an uncooled Night-vision camera and an uncooled thermal imager with binocular vision enabling effortless driving at a reasonable speed on a pitch-black night. Developed by CVRDE , the Integrated Automotive Vetronics System (IAVS) is a health monitoring system developed for tanks and armoured fighting vehicles operated by the Indian Army. The IAVS is

Tank EX - Misplaced Pages Continue

2656-604: The Arjun MK2 variant was redesignated as the Arjun MK1A. By 2018, two Arjun MK1A prototypes had been built and completed user trials by the end of the year. In February 2024, DRDO reported that deliveries of the MK1A are facing delays because of shortages of tank engines. The Arjun main battle tank has a 120 mm rifled gun fitted with an ARDE-developed ( Armament Research and Development Establishment ) recoil system , muzzle reference system and fume extractor , which can fire

2739-587: The Arjun and 45 two piece rounds in the T-72. A global positioning system is provided for accurate navigation. This is a feature common to both the Arjun MBT and the Combat Improved Ajeya . The Tank Ex utilizes the " Kanchan " composite armour , especially over its frontal arc (turret as well as glacis ), giving it protection against both Kinetic and HEAT rounds. The usage of the Arjun turret design indicates that

2822-515: The Arjun tanks had to be grounded because of a lack of spare parts. By 2016, this problem had been rectified, and the tanks returned to active service. In 2010, the DRDO proposed an improved variant of the Arjun designated as the Arjun MK2 as a next step in the programme. The configuration of the new variant was finalised in mid-2010 after consultations with the army. The new tank was redesigned to have 89 major and minor improvements intended to enhance

2905-547: The Arjun was delivered to the HVF Avadi after successful completion of field trials in 2009; the total order was for 124 systems. In 2010, combat simulators (turret and driver simulators) developed for the Arjun had been inducted into the Army, its development was authorised in 2009. By June 2011, more than 100 tanks had been delivered to the Indian Army. The delivery of all 124 tanks was completed by mid-2012. From 2013 to 2015, 75% of

2988-669: The Arjun MK1A variant has an integrated laser target designator linked to the SAMHO gun-launched guided missile. The Arjun MK1 tanks are protected by an indigenously developed armour called Kanchan armour , named after the city of Kanchanbagh, where the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) which designed and developed the armour is located. Kanchan is a composite armour that consists of ceramic tiles and composite panels sandwiched between rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) plates. Its exact composition,

3071-404: The Army's annual winter exercise. The same year, the Indian Army carried out a comparative trial pitting the newly inducted Arjun MK1 tanks against the imported T-90 tanks. The trial was carried out in four phases from 19 February 2010 to 12 March 2010, checking the subsystem performance, medium fording capability, automotive run and firing trials. The result of the comparative trial

3154-522: The BEL developed Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS), ballistic computer and gunner's main sight, was rolled out in 2004 and delivered in the first batch of five Arjun tanks on 7 August 2004. The first tranche of production version Arjun tanks was delivered to the 43rd Armoured Regiment in 2004. By 2009, two armoured regiments had been equipped with the vehicle. The two regiments with Arjun MBT were 43rd and 75th Armoured Regiment . The first test firing of

3237-526: The Bhatti rulers of Multhan because they wanted to end the slave raids that were made by the Turkic ruler of Ghazni, but the alliance was broken apart by Alp Tigin in 977 CE. Bhati dominions continued to shift southwards: they ruled Multan, then finally got pushed into Cholistan and Jaisalmer, where Rawal Devaraja built Dera Rawal / Derawar . Jaisalmer was founded as the new capital in 1156 by Maharawal Jaisal Singh and

3320-546: The DRDO the NGMBT will have a main gun able to fire high velocity projectiles at a longer distance. The FMBT will also have network-centric warfare abilities. The NGMBT is intended to be a replacement for the Indian Army's fleet of T-72s , and will be a 50-55 tonne tank powered by the DRDO-developed DATRAN 1500 engine producing 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) with an automatic transmission system collectively called

3403-524: The German company, Diehl , but these were later replaced with tracks supplied by Larsen & Toubro . The Arjun has a ground of clearance 0.45 metres (18 in), and can ford through 2.15-metre (7 ft 1 in) deep water without using a snorkel. During this operation, air for fuel combustion is drawn through the commander's and loader's hatches. The MK1A variant has a new auxiliary power unit (APU) with double power generation capacity, which allows

Tank EX - Misplaced Pages Continue

3486-434: The Indian Army carried out an extensive series of trials, which revealed some major defects in the tank, including the engine overheating and suboptimal performance of the weapons system. By the end of 1996, 14 pre-production series (PPS) tanks (PPS-1 to PPS-14) were built and delivered to the Indian Army to conduct trials. Based on these trials, the Army identified 10 shortcomings that needed to be addressed before inaugurating

3569-633: The SAMHO missile in association with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and the Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE). The SAMHO guided missile has two high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) tandem-charge warheads designed to defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA) protection. The SAMHO is a dual purpose guided missile which can engage and neutralise armoured fighting vehicles , tanks, and low flying targets such as attack helicopters at

3652-536: The T-72, like the T-72BM. The Tank Ex is better at trench crossing with a capability of crossing 2.6 meters as compared to the T-72M1's 2.28 metres. The Tank Ex can also climb vertical obstacles up to 0.85 metres tall. The tank's shallow fording capabilities are quoted as 1.2 metres. The Tank Ex should also have the capability to fire the Israeli LAHAT missile from its gun-barrel, like the Arjun . Background: History of

3735-537: The Tank Ex may also have its "ready" ammunition stored in the bustle (as in the Arjun), separated from the crew and provided with blow-off panels. This would be a significant protective feature comparable with Western design practices. The Tank Ex retains the T-72's mobility, with a road speed of 60 km/h and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h. With a maximum gradient climb of 30 degrees, it remains in line with all variants of

3818-426: The Thar Desert is composed of trees, shrubs , and perennial herb species, including: The endemic floral species include Calligonum polygonoides , Prosopis cineraria , Acacia nilotica , Tamarix aphylla , and Cenchrus biflorus . The Thar people are the natives of the area. The Thar Desert is the most widely populated desert in the world, with a population density of 83 people per km . In India,

3901-506: The Thar Desert is in India, and about 15% is in Pakistan. The Thar Desert is about 4.56% of the total geographical area of India. More than 60% of the desert lies in the Indian state of Rajasthan ; the portion in India also extends into Gujarat , Punjab , and Haryana . The portion in Pakistan extends into the provinces of Sindh and Punjab (the portion in the latter province is referred to as

3984-542: The Thar Desert lies between the Aravalli Hills . The desert stretches to Punjab and Haryana in the north, to the Great Rann of Kutch along the coast, and to the alluvial plains of the Indus River in the west and northwest. Much of the desert area is covered by huge, shifting sand dunes that receive sediments from the alluvial plains and the coast. The sand is highly mobile due to the strong winds that rise each year before

4067-779: The Thar Desert. It was built to halt any spreading of the desert into fertile areas. There are several protected areas in the Thar Desert: Some wildlife species that are fast vanishing in other parts of India are found in the desert in large numbers, including the blackbuck ( Antilope cervicapra ), chinkara ( Gazella bennettii ), and Indian wild ass ( Equus hemionus khur ) in the Rann of Kutch . This may be partly because they are well adapted to this environment: they are smaller than similar animals that live in other environments, and they are mainly nocturnal. It may also be because grasslands in this region have not been transformed into cropland as fast as in other regions, and because

4150-415: The army had rejected Tank Ex. This was part of an announcement that there would be no further orders for Arjun tanks , and that the military would be inviting participants from various countries to discuss future tank developments. Weighing in at 47 tons, the Tank Ex is heavier than the T-72M1 (41 tons) and much lighter than the Arjun MBT, (58.4 tons). It has a 1,000 hp (700 kW) power plant giving

4233-502: The desert seeking adventure on camels for one to several days. This ecotourism industry ranges from cheaper backpacker treks to plush Arabian night-style campsites replete with banquets and cultural performances. During the treks, tourists are able to view the fragile and beautiful ecosystem of the Thar Desert. This form of tourism provides income to many operators and camel owners in Jaisalmer, as well as employment for many camel trekkers in

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4316-408: The desert to shift. To counteract this problem, sand dunes are stabilised by first erecting micro windbreak barriers with scrub material and then by afforestation of the treated dunes—planting the seedlings of shrubs (such as phog , senna , and castor oil plant ) and trees (such as gum acacia , Prosopis juliflora , and lebbek tree ). The 649-km-long Indira Gandhi Canal brings fresh water to

4399-585: The desert villages nearby. People from various parts of the world come to see the Pushkar ka Mela (Pushkar Fair) and oases. The government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in 1955 and 1956 in the Jaisalmer area, Oil India Limited discovered natural gas in 1988 in the Jaisalmer basin . The Desert National Park in Jaisalmer district has a collection of 180-million-year- old animal and plant fossils. Jaisalmer State 's historical foundations are in

4482-503: The direction of a threat when a laser rangefinder/designator, IR illuminator is pointed at the tank. The ALWCS has integrated IR jammers and aerosol based smoke grenades to confuse the anti-tank guided munitions. The ALWCS is interfaced with the FCS of the Arjun tank, which autonomously rotates the grenade launcher in the direction of and perceived threat and fires aerosol smoke grenades. It has auto and manual modes of operation. The Arjun has

4565-593: The dry season. The salt comes from the weathering of rocks in the region. Lithic tools belonging to the prehistoric Aterian culture of the Maghreb have been discovered in Middle Paleolithic deposits in the Thar Desert. The climate is arid and subtropical. Average temperature varies with season, and extremes can range from near-freezing in the winter to more than 50 °C in the summer months. Average annual rainfall ranges from 100 to 500 mm, and occurs during

4648-458: The economic decline, but the kingdom nevertheless became impoverished. To make matters worse, there was a severe drought and a resulting famine from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Maharawal Salivahan Singh, which caused the widespread loss of the livestock upon which the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom had come to rely. In 1965 and 1971, population exchanges took place in the Thar between India and Pakistan; 3,500 Muslims shifted from

4731-413: The existing RHA plates by a margin of 20 per cent and 25 per cent against 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm armour-piercing projectiles . The latest variant Arjun, the MK1A, has a completely redesigned turret protected with improved Kanchan armour with enhanced protection against large calibre kinetic energy projectiles , explosive reactive armour (ERA) panels (ERA MK-II) on the turret, hull glacis and

4814-522: The firepower and survivability of the tank. Of these, 73 improvements could be fitted easily on the existing MK1 variant tanks. In the same year, the Indian Army placed an order for the procurement of 124 Arjun MK2 tanks, which was later approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). In 2011, the first MK2 prototype was built. This incorporated some 20 improvements, including a new commander's independent panoramic sight system. The tank

4897-488: The firepower of the Arjun, DRDO earlier considered equipping the tank with a LAHAT gun-launched anti-tank guided missile, but in 2014, it was announced the plan had been dropped. In the same year, DRDO announced the development of an Indian-made, gun-launched guided missile under Cannon Launched Guided Missile Programme (CLMDP), the SAMHO . In 2020, DRDO successfully test fired SAMHO from an Arjun main battle tank. ARDE developed

4980-722: The first of its kind to be unearthed in India and is also the oldest specimen of the group ever recorded in the global fossil record. During the Last Glacial Maximum 20,000 before present, an approximately 2,400,000 square kilometres (930,000 sq mi) ice sheet covered the Tibetan Plateau , causing excessive radiative forcing i.e. the ice in Tibet reflected at least four times more radiation energy per unit area into space than ice at higher latitudes , which further cooled overlying atmosphere at that time. This impacted

5063-617: The heavy dunal desert terrain. In 2013, the Indian Army announced it would not purchase any additional vehicles above the 124 Arjuns that had already been ordered. In 2014, a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India noted that some parameters of the 2010 comparative trials had been relaxed for the T-90 tanks. The Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT) , also known as the Arjun ;Mk2 or Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NGMBT) ,

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5146-416: The inhabitants comprise Hindus , Jains , Sikhs , and Muslims . In Pakistan, inhabitants include both Muslims and Hindus. About 40% of the total population of Rajasthan lives in the Thar Desert. The main occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture and animal husbandry . Jodhpur , the largest city in the region, lies in the scrub forest zone at the desert's perimeter. Bikaner and Jaisalmer are

5229-531: The large empire ruled by the Bhati dynasty. The empire stretched from what is now Ghazni in modern-day Afghanistan to what is Sialkot , Lahore and Rawalpindi in modern-day Pakistan to the region that is Bhatinda and Hanumangarh in modern-day India. The empire crumbled over time because of continuous invasions from central Asia. According to Satish Chandra, the Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan made an alliance with

5312-433: The largest cities located entirely in the desert. In the true desert areas, the only sources of water for animals or humans are small, scattered ponds - some that are natural ( tobas ) and some that are human-made ( johads ). The persistence of water scarcity heavily influences life in all areas of the Thar, prompting many inhabitants to adopt a nomadic lifestyle. Most of the permanent human settlements are located near

5395-518: The material used and the manufacturing processes are kept highly secret. The armour was fielded on the Arjun after extensive evaluation trials carried out against a variety of modern anti-tank munitions, including APFSDS. The Arjun tanks are also protected with ultra-high strength low alloy DMR-1700 steel armour plates developed by the DMRL, which offer enhanced protection against kinetic energy penetrator projectiles such as APFSDS (125 mm) rounds, over

5478-504: The move. The fire control system originally developed for the Arjun tank has been integrated into the Indian Army's T-90 tanks. The Arjun gunner's main sight has an integrated laser range finder , day sight and thermal sight for day and night target recognition and engagement, and dual magnification and fibre-optic gyro based two-axis stabilisation. The sight is integrated with an automatic target tracking system developed by DRDO. The commander's panoramic sight operates independently of

5561-482: The newly inducted Arjun MK1 against the Indian Army's frontline Russian-designed T-90 tanks, during which the Arjun reportedly exhibited better accuracy and mobility. The fire-control system (FCS) originally developed for the Arjun main battle tank has been integrated into the T-90 tanks built in India under a transfer of technology (ToT) agreement by the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi. After

5644-566: The onset of the monsoon . The Luni River is the only river in the desert. Rainfall is 100 to 500 mm (4 to 20 in) per year, almost all of it between June and September. Saltwater lakes within the Thar Desert include the Sambhar , Kuchaman, Didwana , Pachpadra , and Phalodi in Rajasthan and Kharaghoda in Gujarat. These lakes receive and collect rainwater during monsoon and evaporate during

5727-615: The regional climate. Without the thermal low pressure caused by the heating, there was no monsoon over the Indian subcontinent . This lack of monsoon caused extensive rainfall over the Sahara , expansion of the Thar Desert, more dust deposited into the Arabian Sea , a lowering of the biotic life zones on the Indian subcontinent, and animals responded to this shift in climate with the Javan rusa deer migrating into India. 10,000-8,000 years ago

5810-456: The sequential revisions done to the original General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) issued in 1974 to accommodate new features. In 1996, the development of the PPS-15 tank prototype was initiated to address the shortcomings listed by the Army. In 1997, a 'joint action plan' was formulated to address the identified flaws and to make the tank ready for induction. By 1999, both the Army and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave clearance for

5893-499: The short July-to-September southwest monsoon. The desert has both a very dry part (the Marusthali region in the west) and a semidesert part (in the east) that has fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation. The soil of the Thar Desert remains dry for much of the year, so it is prone to wind erosion . High-velocity winds blow soil from the desert, depositing some of it on neighboring fertile lands, and causing sand dunes within

5976-450: The side skirt. The MK1A also has non-explosive reactive armour (NERA) protection. The turret is redesigned to reduce its silhouette, thereby delaying detection at ranges using modern electro-optical sights. The tank has NBC protection and an automatic fire detection and suppression system for enhanced crew protection and survival. Passive protection is provided by a multi-purpose mobile camouflage system (MCS) developed by DRDO; it

6059-467: The state took its name from the capital. On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a British protectorate through the Rajputana Agency . Because the kingdom's main source of income had long been levies on caravans , its economy suffered after Bombay became a major port, and sea trade largely replaced trade along the traditional land routes. Maharawals Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh tried to reverse

6142-458: The system through an integrated touch screen display. Its trials were successfully completed in August 2015 during which the prototype covered 430 kilometres (270 mi) under harsh weather conditions. Since its induction into service, the Arjun has participated in a number of wargames carried out by the Indian Army. In 2010, the first two armoured regiments equipped with Arjun tanks participated in

6225-456: The tank , Tank classification Arjun MBT The Arjun ( pronounced [ɐɽˈdʑʊn] ) is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army . The tank is named after Arjuna , the archer prince who is the main protagonist of

6308-547: The tank , Tank classification Thar Desert This is an accepted version of this page The Thar Desert , also known as the Great Indian Desert , is an arid region in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent that covers an area of 200,000 km (77,000 sq mi) in India and Pakistan . It is the world's 18th-largest desert , and the world's 9th-largest hot subtropical desert . About 85% of

6391-411: The tank into the service. During this period, the cost of the Arjun programme increased significantly from the 1974 estimate of ₹ 15.50 crore (equivalent to ₹ 464 crore or US$ 55.6 million in 2023) to a developmental cost of ₹ 307.48 crore (equivalent to ₹ 18 billion or US$ 219.5 million in 2023) in 1995. The initial delays and cost escalations were attributed to

6474-510: The tank to operate in silent watch mode while the main engine is off. The use of an APU reduces the IR/thermal and acoustic signature and enhances the tank's ambush attack capability. The Arjun Mk1A has an Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) in addition to the GPS / inertial navigation system it retains from its predecessor, for enhanced navigation in uncharted hostile enemy territory. In

6557-406: The turret. It is stabilised with a fibre-optic gyro, and has an integrated laser rangefinder, day sight with dual magnification and a thermal imaging camera for day and night all-weather 360-degree surveillance. The sight is also interfaced with the ballistic computer, which enables the commander to override the gunner to select and engage targets independently. In addition to the laser rangefinder,

6640-525: The two seasonal streams of the Karon-Jhar hills. Potable groundwater is also rare in the Thar Desert. Much of it tastes sour due to dissolved minerals. Potable water is mostly available only deep underground. When wells are dug that happen to yield sweet tasting water, people tend to settle near them, but such wells are difficult and dangerous to dig, sometimes claiming the lives of the well-diggers. Crowded housing conditions are common in some areas. The Thar

6723-479: Was handed over to the army to carry out validation trial phase one. By 2012, the first complete prototype incorporating all the listed improvements was rolled out for system validation trial phase two. As part of the developmental trials, the first phase of the LAHAT gun-launched anti-tank guided missile firing trials were carried out by 2013. In 2015, DRDO developed an Integrated Automotive Vetronics System (IAVS) that

6806-405: Was integrated into the Arjun MK2 prototype tank. Field trials were carried out over 430 kilometres (270 mi) under harsh environmental conditions. In 2014 and 2016, two new rounds, Penetration-Cum-Blast and Thermobaric, were developed for the Arjun tank and successfully tested. Impact assessments were also carried out with instruments to measure shock and blast pressure. In the meantime,

6889-412: Was not published until 2013, when it was reported that the Arjun had outperformed the T-90. During the comparative trials, the Arjun reportedly demonstrated its ability to target and engage moving targets while moving in the opposite direction. In addition, it demonstrated a zero water ingress medium fording capability, multiple target discrimination, and effortless automotive performance achieved even in

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