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India sets eyes on Russian Sprut light tanks to counter China

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 6/15/2021 11:17:22 AM

New Delhi, June 14 India has set its eyes on procuring the Russianmade Sprut-SDM1 light tanks, to counter China in the mountainous terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and will also take part in the trials of the system starting late summer. This will be a first for Russia because no other country has witnessed trials of a product that is under development. According to sources in the security and defence establishment, India is keen on the 18-tonne Sprut because it shares the gun of the T-90 tank and fires the same kind of ammunition. India is currently operating T-90 and T-72 tanks, which are also Russian-origin, besides Arjun. This will mean logistics and maintenance systems of the Sprut tanks will not have to be drastically different for the Armoured Corps. While it is largely believed that the Russian forces have already inducted Sprut, sources said the tanks are still undergoing trials and are in the last stages of development. Russia’s approval to include India in the trials of the light tanks — which can be airlifted, parachuted with crew inside and can even disembark from a ship — came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke about India’s need for light tanks during his visit to Russia in August 2020. Russia had offered India the light Sprut SDM1 tanks during Singh’s visit. The move came as India had deployed the T-90 tanks, weighing about 46 tonnes, in Ladakh during the prolonged standoff with China. This was besides the T-72 tanks, which weigh around 45 tonnes, deployed earlier. Conversely, China had deployed its new lightweight tanks, Type 15, besides other armoured elements. After India’s request, sources familiar with the matter said, discussions were held at various levels within the Russian establishment and a final goahead for inclusion in trials was given by the “very top”. Accordingly, a team of the Indian Army will visit Russia later this year, and witness the firing and mobility trials of the tank. Meanwhile, India has also floated a Request for Information (RFI) for 350 light tanks, which should not weigh more than 25 tonnes. This weight criteria will rule out many of the light tanks currently available in the market. Sprut-SDM1 is the only light amphibious fighting vehicle in the world that possesses the firepower of a main battle tank, a 125mm main gun. The other unique future is the ability to fire a cannon afloat, sources said. Other similar products are Chinese Type 15 light tank and the Turkish Kaplan MT medium tank. However, both these tanks have 105mm main guns unlike the Sprut’s 125mm main gun. Furthermore, only the Sprut-SDM1 can fire guided missiles and has a potent armament suite that includes a 125mm gun, a 7.62mm remote-controlled machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.