India's Future Tank: Need for a Parallel Approach

The emergence of disruptive technologies and the concept of "Disruption in Military Affairs (DMA)" pose new challenges for future warfare, necessitating a re-evaluation of armoured fighting vehicle strategies

- MAJOR GENERAL RAJIV NARAYANAN (RETD)

THE OBITUARY OF THE main battle tanks has been written many a times before, ever since the ATGMS (Anti-Tank Guided Weapon) were fielded on the battlefield. The battle that gained prominence was the ambush of Israeli armour at El Firdan during the 1973 Yom Kippur War on October 8, 1973. Tanks have not only survived but have continued to be the prime offensive and defensive arm of militaries across the world. The tactics and groupings were suitably adjusted to counter the evolving battlefield threats posed by the 'Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA)'.

However, the evolving emerging and disruptive technologies present a new set of challenges in the battlefields of the future, glimpses of which were visible in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict of September - November 2020 wherein the integrated use of drones, UAVs/UCAVS, artillery, and air fire by Azerbaijan succeeded in inflicting disproportionate casualties on Armenian tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery and air defence guns and other ground forces. The further evolution is being witnessed in the ongoing Ukrainian Conflict, wherein the 'swarm tactics', in use of drones, is being fine-tuned. Again, voices have arisen about the end of the tank in the battlefield, but this too shall pass.

Considering the increased need for protection for all arms, services, and systems in the future battlefield not only from increased firepower but the evolving multi-domain threat, which is provided by the armoured fighting vehicles and are hence here to stay. However, what would be their shape, size, structure, and what suite of systems, subsystems would it possess, to counter such emerging threats, is open to debate at present.