In a significant advancement in India's military capabilities, the indigenous Indian Light Tank (ILT) fired several rounds at different ranges at an altitude of more than 4,200 metres with consistent accuracy.
The highly versatile 25-tonne class armoured fighting vehicle has been developed to boost the Army's combat capabilities along the frontier with China.
The development of the light tank is seen to be aimed at countering China's deployment of tanks of the same categories. The Indian Air Force has already shown that the tank can be airlifted and deployed at locations that are difficult to access through road or rail.
The Indian Army is looking to deploy over 350 light tanks, mostly in the mountainous border areas.
The latest trial of the tank followed the phase-one trial in the desert environment in September.
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This light tank has been defined, designed, and developed by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, the Chennai-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) against the Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements of Indian Army. It is manufactured by the Industry Partner Larsen & Toubro Precision Engineering & Systems.
“With these two phases of internal performance trials, which were actively supported by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, ILT would be undergoing some more trials before being offered for user trials,” the defence ministry said in a release.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and L&T on the successful high-altitude trials of the tank.
