India's first AI-enabled light tank Zorawar to roll out from Guj soon

Time of India

27-05-2025

Ahmedabad: India is preparing to roll out its first indigenous AI-enabled light tank, Zorawar, being manufactured at Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) facility in Gujarat's Hazira shortly, defence sources said.
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Developed in collaboration with the
(DRDO), Zorawar represents a major leap in India's defence manufacturing capability.
Nearly 400 units of the Zorawar tank will be produced in the first phase, with each tank estimated to cost around Rs 70 crore. The total requirement is pegged at approximately 1,000 tanks. This next-generation, all-terrain tank will be the first AI-enabled tank for deployment across deserts, plains, high-altitude mountains, marshlands and even waterbodies.
Senior defence officials stated that several components of the tank were locally sourced, with MSMEs in Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat contributing to its parts. The tank's cooling system, rubber foundry and gear mechanisms were all conceptualised and developed domestically.
Weighing just around 25 tonnes — significantly lighter than traditional 70-tonne tanks — Zorawar is optimised for rapid deployment and can be easily airlifted using military aircraft.
Its lightweight, high-strength titanium body is fitted with 80gm armoured plating.
The tank is tailored for high-altitude warfare, particularly along the Indo-China border including regions like Ladakh. After Operation Sindoor, Zorawar is also being considered for deployment along the Indo-Pak border, especially in Punjab, where its agility in narrow terrains could offer strategic advantages, the defence official stated.
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Named after the 19th century Dogra general, Zorawar Singh — known for his military campaigns in Ladakh and western Tibet — the tank carries his legacy of mountain warfare.
Zorawar is built for modern battlefield conditions with several advanced features. "Its AI-enabled fire control system allows the tank to automatically identify and lock on to targets, requiring just two to three crew members instead of the usual four to five. A key addition is its integrated anti-drone defence system that can detect, track and neutralise aerial threats autonomously," the defence official said.