CVRDE and Indian Industry Master Arjun Tank Engine Spares Following MTU Exit
The Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) and private Indian enterprises have made a significant breakthrough in producing local spares for Arjun main battle tank engines.
This development comes after the German company MTU Friedrichshafen decided to stop producing essential engine components for the Arjun tank fleet, alleging commercial unviability due to the tank’s limited order size.
MTU’s withdrawal of the MB 838 Ka-501 diesel engine spares, a critical engine model in Arjun MK-1 and MK-1A tanks, resulted in a shortage of spare parts, delaying maintenance and refurbishment operations for the Indian Army’s 124 Arjun MK-1A tanks. MTU estimated a four-year delay in restarting production lines, necessitating immediate indigenous solutions.
In response, the DRDO’s CVRDE, situated in Avadi, Chennai, collaborated with key public and private sector companies including Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), TATA Advanced Systems, and L&T Defense.
They collaborated on considerable R&D engineering and indigenous production of more than 70-80% of engine components, including complex subsystems such as turbochargers, fuel injectors, and pistonsAdvanced techniques, including as 3D scanning, allowed Indian engineers to accurately copy and validate parts while retaining performance equivalence with the original 1,400 horsepower MTU engines. Since 2023, over 150 Arjun tank engines have been successfully rebuilt without reliance on German kits, maintaining the fleet’s long-term operational readiness.
This effort is consistent with the Indian government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” policy, which aims to reduce foreign dependence on essential defense technologies while encouraging strategic self-reliance.
While indigenous powerplant development continues under the DRDO’s DATRAN 1500 horsepower engine program, which is slated to be completed by 2025-26, the local spares manufacturing initiative solves immediate logistical issues.
.The initiative, worth around ₹1,200 crore, showcases India’s growing ability to manage complex defense technology supply chains through collaborative efforts between DRDO and the commercial sector.
This result ensures the Arjun tanks’ long-term lifecycle management and operational deployment without disruption, marking a watershed moment in Indigenous defence production.
In parallel, the CVRDE is testing various interim engines, such as the Cummins QST-30, to bridge the capability gap until indigenous engines are fully integrated. The German company’s refusal to recommence legacy engine production prompted this strategic shift.
This thorough localisation initiative constitutes a significant step forward in India’s defence industrial base, decreasing exposure to foreign supply shocks and strengthening national security.
