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Originally Posted by Shipwreck
My bad then.
For some reason, I was under the rather vague impression that the Arjun Mk1 was going to use an indigenous upgrade of the Vijayanta's TFCS with the Barr & Stroud LRF.
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Not your fault. Its Janes and its execrable local reporter Rahul Bedi who have been peddling that line of hokum since time immemorial. Too lazy and inaccurate to even update their information.
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What LRF does Arjun use then ? Local design or off-the-shelf ? By whom ?
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There are currently two Arjun FCS- one is with Sagem sights and LRF could be either French or Indian, integrated by BEL/DRDO with Indian electronics (Ballistic computer/ Grips etc)
The other one is an all Indian one, known as the IGMS (see
www.bel-india.com for details). This has a DRDO day sight and complete local electronics, including LRF. The thermal imager is integrated in India, but with imported core modules from another country.
Original plans were for the first 15 Arjuns to get the first FCS, followed by the rest to get the Indian one. But its upto the Army- they can decide to standardize on either one. If the first, then its probable that India will license produce it.
Both FCS have similar features & performance- around 90% Pk on moving targets at range. But the Army may prefer to standardize on one type for logistics reasons.
Otherwise, the entire Indian procurement system is a shambles- in terms of differing systems and the like.
To give an idea:
- T-90S- Bolomo Peleng (Belarus) 1GA46 Sights integrated into the Irtysh FCS, but with Thales Catherine TI
-Arjun- Block 1: Sagem-Indian FCS with French 2nd Gen TI
Block 2: Indian FCS with Israeli 2nd Gen TI
(Whichever Army standardizes on)
T-72 Upgrade- Block 1: EL-OP TISAS integrated into existing sights
Block 2: Trials underway (for a "FULL FCS") which will replace the existing sights and which will be license manufactured in India
BMP-2: EL-OP TISAS
etc etc..