New Delhi: India will begin production of an upgraded version of the indigenous Arjun main battle tank (MBT), the Mark-II, by early 2014, according to Indian defence officials. The first set of Mark-II tanks already rolling off production lines for summer and winter trials this year.

According to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials the Mark-II would feature several upgrades, including an indigenous engine that would replace the existing German engines and transmission systems of the 58-tonne Arjun Mark-I.

The engine and transmission systems are provided by German companies MTU and Renk respectively.

The first set of Mark-II tanks are being readied for trials within a year of the government sanctioning the Arjun Mark-II project last year in May.

'In 24 months from now or early 2014, the Arjun Mark-II tanks will be ready for production,' DRDO officials have said.

The Indian Army has placed orders for 248 Arjun Mark-I tanks of which 124 have already been inducted by the army for operational service. The army is now operating the 124 Arjuns as part of two regiments in the western sector and last May placed an order for an additional 124 tanks, especially after a stunning performance against the much touted Russian T-90S 'Bhishma' tanks.

The additional order also ensures that the production line at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, remains operational till the Mark-II version is ready for production.

In comparative trials last year, which had been repeatedly put off by the army for some reason or the other the Russian-built T-90S MBTs were outperformed by the Arjuns in virtually all parameters. Seasoned observers noted that the Arjuns would have done even better had the crews involved in the trials been more experienced.

The results left the army with no options but to order an additional two regiments.

According to defence officials, the Arjun Mark-II will differ from the Mark-I in at least a dozen parameters including missile firing capability with the assistance of a laser homing device. For some reason, though the system was tested on the Mark-I version of the tank, it was not made part of the final configuration of the initial lot of 124 tanks handed over to the army, and nor does it form part of the configuration of the next lot of 124 tanks.

The missile system, officials said, has a range of about eight km and homes in on enemy tanks with the aid of a laser-guided system.

Other upgrades would include better explosive-reactive armour for the tank to protect it from enemy missiles and rockets, improved sighting facility which would provide a wider view of the battlefield, night-vision capability and a better communication system.

The Arjun Mark-II will have indigenous component of over 90 per cent, the exceptions being some hydraulic and electronic systems.