{"id":19843,"date":"2026-09-03T13:32:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T13:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=19843"},"modified":"2026-09-03T13:32:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T13:32:03","slug":"indias-answer-to-chinas-type-15-inside-belgian-powered-zorawar-light-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=19843","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s answer to China&#8217;s Type 15: Inside Belgian-powered Zorawar light tank"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"XYebw\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"IYpL4\">\n<section class=\"lIbak  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  mR3IZ \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"lIbak\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"dV65i\">\n<div class=\"gF0tM\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133734512,imgsize-202866,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/133734512.jpg\" alt=\"India's answer to China's Type 15: Inside Belgian-powered Zorawar light tank\" title=\"Zorawar is the country\u2019s first indigenous light tank designed for high\u2011altitude warfare (Photo: Agencies).\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"XsNYN img_cptn\"><span title=\"Zorawar is the country\u2019s first indigenous light tank designed for high\u2011altitude warfare (Photo: Agencies).\">Zorawar is the country\u2019s first indigenous light tank designed for high\u2011altitude warfare (Photo: Agencies).<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised defence and security as the foundation of Indo-Belgium relations amid the visit of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"1\"\/>PM Modi noted that both nations have finalised pacts to boost military exchanges and training initiatives, highlighting collaboration on advanced military hardware, such as the Zorawar tank.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3><b>Indigenous tank to counter China<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>Developed as a counter to China\u2019s Type 15 tanks that the Indian army faced during the 2020 standoff,<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>Zorawar is the country\u2019s first indigenous light tank designed for high\u2011altitude warfare.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>Weighing around 25 tonnes, the tank is lighter in comparison to the Chinese Type 15, allowing deployment by IAF\u2019s C\u201117 Globemaster aircraft.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>It can reach 70 km\/h, and uses hydropneumatic suspension for movement on rugged terrain.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>Zorawar has a range of 450 km.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>Despite its weight, Zorawar is well-armed. It features a Belgian John Cockerill 3105 turret mounting, with a 105mm rifled gun containing an autoloader.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>The firepower is further complemented by a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon station, and twin launchers capable of firing Nag Mk2 anti\u2011tank missiles.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>Additionally, the tank runs on a Cummins 760hp diesel engine, with a Renk transmission.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>In March, 2025, Belgium&#8217;s John Cockerill Defence entered a joint venture with Pune-based Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics to manufacture the Cockerill 3105 turret in India, for Zorawar tank. It\u2019s first such production line beyond Europe.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>Lightweight tanks with high firepower suit the Indian army\u2019s requirements to counter Chinese and Pakistani threats at high altitude.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>The army had placed an initial order for 59 Zorawars to Larsen &amp; Toubro in partnership with the <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/defence-research-and-development-organisation\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Defence Research and Development Organisation<\/a> (DRDO).<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>The total reported requirement is 354, with a competition to be reportedly held for the remaining 295.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>The tank is named after General Zorawar Singh, known as &#8216;Conqueror of Ladakh&#8217;, a general in the Dogra Army of the then Raja of Jammu.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/defence\/news\/indias-answer-to-chinas-type-15-inside-belgian-powered-zorawar-light-tank\/articleshow\/133734512.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zorawar is the country\u2019s first indigenous light tank designed for high\u2011altitude warfare (Photo: Agencies). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised defence and security as the foundation of Indo-Belgium relations amid the visit of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.PM Modi noted that both nations have finalised pacts to boost military exchanges and training initiatives, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Zorawar is the country\u2019s first indigenous light tank designed for high\u2011altitude warfare (Photo: Agencies). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised defence and security as the foundation of Indo-Belgium relations amid the visit of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.PM Modi noted that both nations have finalised pacts to boost military exchanges and training initiatives, [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":2,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":2,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/133734512.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}