Arjun Battle Tanks Failed To Clear Trials: Cag

India's main battle tank (MBT) Arjun has failed to meet even the "bottom line" parameters of the Army, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has revealed.

In extensive trials of 15 pre-production tanks, a number of deficiencies were noticed which were not corrected till 1997 when the report was prepared.

Tabled in Parliament today the CAG report said production of a prototype with an indigenous engine has been delayed over 9 years.

Originally scheduled to be ready by 1990, the prototype is not likely to be running in the near future. All tests so far have been performed with an imported engine.

 

The MBT project was sanctioned in may 1974 at a cost of Rs 15.5 crore with a foreign exchange content of Rs 3.7 crore.

The project cost was first revised in 1980 to Rs 56.55 crore and again in 1987 to Rs 280.8 crore.

The project was sanctioned in 1974 with a production schedule of April 1984.

However, this time frame was not adhered to and was revised from time to time.

Bulk production was to commence from 1990, but even the revised time frame could not be adhered to, the report said.

As per the original schedule, 12 mk-I prototypes based on imported propulsion units, and seven mk-II prototypes with indigenous propulsion units were to be delivered by June 1987 and June 1990 respectively.

Although targets on the mk-I prototypes had been achieved delayed, mk-II prototypes were not expected in the near future.

The CAG has pulled up the defence ministry for sanctioning two additional projects for making improvements to the tank at a cost of Rs 42 crore without the concurrence of the cabinet committee on political affairs (CCPA).

The two projects, sanctioned in September 1995 and January 1997 for "product support" at a cost of Rs 16.98 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively, were irregular and should have been done only with the approval of CCPA as the main battle tank (MBT) project was still on, the report said.

These supplementary projects sanctioned by the ministry despite reservations held by the army authorities on the design of the tank had resulted in escalating cost to the extent of Rs 41.98 crore.

As per the estimates made in 1987, the import content of Arjun was 27 per cent and expenditure in foreign exchange was 45 per cent.

The total expenditure at the time of completing the mk-I prototype in March 1995 was Rs 307.48 crore as against the revised cost of Rs 280.8 crore.