The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to make its future Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) more lethal by equipping them with a 125 mm gun, third-generation anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) and an air-defence machine gun.
Addressing the International Armoured Vehicles 2017 conference in London, Dr U. Solomon of the DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) said that India is planning to equip MBTs with capacity to fire guided munitions.
He also revealed that the munitions are likely to be either Israel Aerospace Industries' Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tan (LAHAT) missile.
Dr Solomon further said that the new MBT is intended to replace the Indian Army's fleet of T-72M1 'Ajeya' MBTs and are scheduled to enter service from early 2020s.
“The turret design will be unmanned, with the three-person crew seated in suspended seats below the turret - a configuration that is intended to enhance protection against underbelly blasts from mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” Dr Solomon said.
