Report submitted for the Implant Training

undergone from 18 June 2012 to 22 Jun 2012

Submitted by
Karthik T
MIT, Anna University
Introduction:

After the Independence of India, the Chief Inspectorate of

Mechanical Transport Establishment (MTE), which was
previously located in Chaklala, Pakistan, was moved
to Ahmednagar. It was later renamed as Vehicle Research
& Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar.
In 1965, the Heavy Vehicles Factory was set up at Avadi
to manufacture Vijayanta Tanks. A detachment of VRDE
was established there to provide R&D support. In March
1976, the VRDE detachment at Avadi was split off from
VRDE and re-designated as Combat Vehicles Research &
Development Establishment (CVRDE), as an independent
DRDO laboratory responsible for Research &
Development of Armoured Fighting Vehicles.

CVRDE has been tasked with the design, development

and testing of tracked combat vehicles and specialized
tracked vehicles. It has also designed certain aircraft
subsystems, mainly related to the engine and hydraulics.
Like many DRDO labs, it also develops civilian
technologies based on spin-offs of the defence related
products developed by it. It has recently started
developing Unmanned Ground Vehicles of the tracked
category.
Projects and products:
CVRDE is the main research lab responsible for the
development of the Arjun MBT, 248 of which have been
ordered by the Indian Army. It has also developed
the Tank-EX, Bhim Self Propelled Artillery, based on the
Arjun Chassis, and the Combat Improved Ajeya, an
upgrade of the Indian Army's T-72 Tanks.
Apart from these, CVRDE has also developed other
combat and Engineering Vehicles, like Armored Cars,
Bridge-layer Tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles and a
Mortar Carrier based on the BMP-2 chassis.
CVRDE is also working on many technologies related to
Armoured Fighting vehicles. CVRDE has a division
dedicated to development of Automatic transmissions for
Armored Fighting Vehicles. It has developed
transmissions of various power ranges viz. 1500, 800, 150
hp. It has developed various subsystems of transmission
like torque converter, Fluid coupling and retarder, Steering
units, Final drives etc.

Tracked Vehicles:
 Carrier Mortar Tracked (CMT)
 Armoured Ambulance
 Combat Improved Ajeya
 Ground support Vehicles for Missile Programme
 Bridge Layer Tanks
 Armoured Repair & Recovery Vehicles
 Carrier Command Post Tracked
Combat Vehicle Technology Products
 Diesel Engine
 Automatic Transmission
 Suspension
 Weapon control
 Automotive Electronics
 Automotive Electrical Systems
Aerospace Technology Products
 Aircraft Mounted Accessory Gearbox (AMAGB) (Air
Force and Naval Versions)
 Hydraulic Filters
 Power Take Off (PTO) Shaft
 Aircraft Bearings
 DC Generators
 Landing Gears
Infrastructure:

MECHANICAL SYSTEMS LABORATORY (MSL)

Mechanical Systems Lab, a Nodal Test Centre of CVRDE,
caters facilities for testing, evaluation and analysis of major
sub-systems of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). It has
various facilities for evaluating high specific output engines,
fuel injection systems, power packs of AFVs, Automatic
transmission, Hydro-gas Suspension, Road wheel and Air
cleaner. Extensive tests are carried out to evaluate the
performance of various systems. The test facilities help in
evaluation of automotive systems in simulated field
conditions for their performance before integration on AFVs
for field trials.

I. ENGINE TEST FACILITIES

Engine Test Facility (1500 kW)
The facility consists of 1500kW hydraulic dynamometer. The
load control is by servo operated water inlet and outlet
valves. The throttle actuator is provided to control the
injection pump of the engine. A PC based data acquisition
cum control system is used for test bed and dynamometer
control and monitoring. Incremental encoders are used for
setting of demand values and bump less transfer of control
modes are integrated in automation system. The
instrumentation sensors are mounted in the cable boom and
routed to the DAS. Other measuring equipment available are
air mass meter, continuous fuel balance, fuel conditioning
system, smoke meter and blow by meter. The facility also
comprises of Combustion Process Analysis system, which
consists of high speed 16 channels indicating system for
crank angle and time based measurements of combustion
pressure, low pressure phenomena at intake and exhaust
manifolds.

MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
CVRDE Manufacturing Division is equipped with modern
CNC Machines, Jig boring machines, General purpose
machines, Gear manufacturing machines and Tool room
with tool and cutter grinders, Foundry and Heat treatment
facilities. The existing facilities are utilized to develop
prototype components for various projects, namely Arjun
Main Battle Tank, its variants and Light Combat Aircraft.

Reliability and quality assurance:

Facilities & Services rendered:

Reliability & Quality Assurance Group is rendering services
related to quality in achieving design perfection by giving
feed backs and in transforming into hardware.
Metrology Facilities:
This group is equipped with precision measuring
instruments, gauges and equipments, as detailed below:
Arjun MBT

The Arjun features a 120 mm main rifled gun with

indigenously developed APFSDS ammunition, one
7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm machine
gun. It is powered by a single MTU multi-fuel diesel engine
rated at 1,400 hp, and can achieve a maximum speed of
70 km/h (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h
(25 mph). It has a four-man crew: commander, gunner,
loader and driver. Automatic fire detection and
suppression and NBC protection systems are included.
All-round anti-tank warhead protection by the newly
developed Kanchan armour is claimed to be much higher
than available in comparable third generation tanks.

 Powered by a MTU 838 KU 501 ten cylinder engine producing

1400 bhp.

 Employs Kanchan Armour. Developed By cvrde.

 GPS Based navigation system jointly developed with Ebit

Isreal.

 7.62 coaxial gun, 12.7 machine gun

 Nuclear , Biological , Chemical Protection.

Implant training:

The objective of my implant training was to learn about the

various subsystems of the Arjun MBT.

The week long training featured visits to the testing

facilities and also to the Arjun MBT workshop. The Arjun
MBT simulation centre was also allowed to be researched.
The simulation centre is where the tank crew are trained in
virtual combat scenarios. It is also used as a tool to test
the suspension and tractive dynamics of the vehicle.

Conclusion:

After a week of training, I finally understood the

underpinnings of a combat vehicle manufacturing unit.
Especially the manufacturing of the Arjun MBT.