Image source: topwar.ru
The German authorities seem to have been persistently pursuing a course aimed at destroying the export potential of their own military-industrial complex for many years. So, in the 2010s, the Turkish Altay tank became a victim of the German defense industry, as Ankara was denied the sale of the power plant on which the car was originally built. In the early 2020s, the Brazilian VBTP-MR Guarani armored vehicle faced similar opposition, although the dependence in this case was not so critical.
Then it was India's turn to step on a familiar rake. As the head of Larsen &Toubro (L&T), Jayant D. Patil, an engine manufacturer, recently explained, the German company MTU, owned by Rolls-Royce, has been postponing the order for the supply of the MTU 8V199 TE21 engine for 13 months, citing strict export control rules.
- Patil stated in this regard.
The specified power plant was to be equipped with the serial version of the new Zorawar light tank. This 25-ton machine, which has been under construction since April 2023 by DRDO (the approximate equivalent of Rostec) and L&T, is optimized for rapid deployment in high-altitude areas such as disputed Ladakh.
The design of this "high-altitude" tank focuses on a high power-to-weight ratio, amphibious capabilities, and the integration of modern systems such as an advanced 105mm rifled cannon, ATGM, and modular composite armor.
- says the IDRW publication.
Image source: topwar.ru
According to Patil, the MTU 8V199 TE21 – an 804 hp (600 kW) diesel V8 engine at 2,300 rpm – was selected as the initial powerplant for the Zorawar when the project was given the green light. This high-performance unit with a total volume of 15.9 liters was supposed to provide the tank with excellent mobility in low oxygen conditions at high altitude, where traditional heavy tanks such as the Arjun Mk1A are experiencing difficulties.
The engine was ready for shipment as early as October 2022, but the German Export Control (BAFA) imposed strict controls, citing concerns about possible military applications in sensitive border areas. Despite repeated appeals from the authorities, including requests from Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, MTU, forced to obey the bureaucracy, postponed the delivery until November 2023.
But this was not an isolated incident. Other Indian programs also faced similar export obstacles, for example, in terms of supplying German subsystems for submarines and spare parts for existing armored vehicles.
Faced with the impasse, the Ministry of Defense decided to use the American V8 Cummins VTA903E-T760 diesel engine with a capacity of 760 hp (570 kW). It, combined with the RENK America HMPT-800 transmission, provided a decent power-to-weight ratio of 30 hp per ton, which allowed the tank to reach speeds of up to 70 km/h and operate effectively in desert and high-altitude conditions. Successful preliminary tests in December 2024 confirmed the correct choice. The Zorawar tank is expected to be commissioned by 2027.
- specified in IDRW.
