Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd. (KSSL), the defence arm of Bharat Forge, has unveiled a ground breaking indigenous light tank prototype that signifies a major leap in India’s land warfare capabilities. Bharat Forge's light tank features a glass cockpit, automated ammunition handling, and integrated AI diagnostics. This indigenous light tank also includes India's first indigenous turret system.

This new platform has been designed keeping in mind the requirements of high-altitude and rapid-mobility operations, particularly relevant for theatres such as Eastern Ladakh and mountainous terrains where maneuverability, lightweight firepower, and adaptability are paramount.

Unlike legacy armoured vehicles adapted for lighter roles, KSSL’s tank has been conceptualised from a clean-sheet design perspective, integrating cutting-edge digital, automation, and indigenous technologies.

One of the highlights of this light tank is its glass cockpit configuration, a concept traditionally associated with modern fighter aircraft but now innovatively applied to armoured warfare systems. The digital cockpit provides enhanced situational awareness by fusing multiple sensor inputs into intuitive displays, giving the crew real‑time information on terrain, threats, weapon systems, and diagnostics.

By reducing cognitive burdens on operators, it allows for faster response cycles and more efficient decision-making on the battlefield. This is a clear step toward next-generation armoured systems that emphasise crew survivability and operational efficiency through advanced human‑machine interfaces.

The tank is also equipped with automated ammunition handling, an advanced feature that dramatically improves both safety and efficiency during combat operations. Automated systems reduce the exposure of crew members to ammunition handling risks, while also shortening reload times and enabling sustained high rates of fire. Within the context of modern armoured warfare, such automation not only enhances lethality, but also minimises crew fatigue and improves overall mission endurance.

A revolutionary aspect of the vehicle is the incorporation of integrated artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostics. This system continuously monitors the health and performance of the tank’s propulsion, targeting, and communications subsystems.

By providing predictive maintenance alerts and real-time condition assessments, AI-based diagnostics improve fleet readiness and reduce lifecycle costs. In battlefield conditions, where unexpected failures can impact mission success, this feature ensures greater reliability and reduces downtime for critical assets.

Perhaps the most noteworthy milestone achieved through this program is the introduction of India’s first fully indigenous turret system. Historically, Indian armoured platforms, even indigenous designs, have relied extensively on imported turret assemblies and fire‑control elements.

By developing a turret indigenously, KSSL has not only demonstrated engineering and systems‑integration expertise but has also taken a significant step toward reducing dependency on foreign suppliers in a key subsystem of armoured vehicles. The indigenous turret system supports multiple weapon packages, advanced sighting, and fire‑control solutions, making it adaptable for both conventional and asymmetric combat environments.

Beyond its light tank program, KSSL has established itself as a critical pillar of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, with capabilities that extend far beyond armoured vehicles. The company has emerged as one of the most advanced private-sector contributors to artillery design and production, having developed and produced next-generation howitzers that meet Indian Army requirements while also generating significant interest in export markets. KSSL’s artillery systems, which combine indigenous design expertise with global standards of performance and reliability, have already been exported to international partners—marking India’s rise as an exporter of sophisticated land systems.

On the global front, KSSL is steadily building its international presence as a supplier of Indian-made defense solutions. This aligns with India’s defense export policy push and enhances its position as a reliable security partner to friendly nations. The emphasis is not merely on exporting turnkey platforms, but also on developing long‑term collaborations that can open new markets and extend India’s strategic influence.

KSSL has also demonstrated the ability to build strategic partnerships without compromising self-reliance goals. For instance, its collaboration with industry leaders such as L3Harris (M3Harris) in the domain of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) allows Indian forces access to globally benchmarked battlefield networking and information systems integrated seamlessly with indigenous platforms. Such collaborations provide cutting-edge solutions while ensuring transfer of knowledge and reduction of external dependencies.

Above all, the company maintains a commitment to indigenisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing. By developing indigenous critical subsystems like turrets and integrating AI for its platforms, KSSL ensures that India builds not just assembly capability but genuine design and development depth in armoured vehicles, artillery, and electronic warfare systems. Its efforts reflect the growing maturity of India’s private defence sector, which is increasingly moving from licensed production to original development and innovation.

KSSL’s indigenous light tank represents far more than just a new piece of military hardware—it marks the confluence of digitalisation, automation, AI integration, and indigenisation. When combined with its artillery expertise, global outreach, strategic collaborations, and relentless focus on self-reliance, KSSL is positioning itself as a transformative player in India’s defence landscape.

The development of a glass‑cockpit light tank with an indigenous turret underscores India’s ambition of fielding battle‑ready, world‑class weapon systems while fostering domestic technological capability and reducing foreign dependencies.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)