Larsen and Toubro Announces Successful Completion of Zorawar Project for Light Tank

Defense News ,India :- The realization of the Indian Army's light tank project has reached a significant milestone as it currently undergoes trials, as confirmed by Jayant D Patil, the adviser to CMD at Larsen and Toubro. In an interview with ANI, Patil expressed that the concept of light tanks has not only been realized but is presently in the trial phase.

Highlighting the collaboration between the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen and Toubro for the development of the light tank, Patil emphasized the unique achievement. He stated that although each entity could have pursued the project independently, their collaboration resulted in the world's first battle tank progressing from concept to construction and trials within a record 19 months.

Speaking at the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 in Pune, inaugurated on Friday, Patil revealed their focus on enhancing the tanks' reliability through extensive testing and running. He expressed optimism about the tank's increasing levels of involvement and referred to the recent statement by Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, predicting that the tank would enter Army trials by the summer.

When asked about the ecosystem for defense companies in the country, Patil emphasized a collaborative approach. He revealed that L&T has been integrating MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) into their business model, with each factory having a supply chain comprising 1500-2000 MSME partners, contributing 40-50% of the actual work.

Responding to a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on increasing exports, Patil highlighted L&T's role as a front-runner in exports due to their focus on designing and building in India. He underlined the company's commitment to contributing to the country's export goals.