Six years overdue, Army begins first full overhaul of indigenous Arjun tanks

Six years behind schedule, the Army has finally kicked off the rebuild of its Arjun tanks, with two Mk-1s set to be stripped down and refurbished at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi. The two tanks will also get 26 upgrades borrowed from the newer Mk-1A variant and will serve as a pilot for the overhaul of the Army's remaining 124-strong fleet. The repair procedures developed here will form the template going forward.The Arjun has never had a full overhaul before. A 2016 CAG report flagged that the tank, inducted from 2004, was due for its first overhaul by 2020, but no agency had even been identified to carry it out. The same audit found the Arjun sitting idle since 2013 due to a lack of repair facilities and poor spares support from HVF.