India on Friday successfully conducted the preliminary automotive trials of the indigenous light tank, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas.

During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the light tank “demonstrated exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the intended objectives,” the defence ministry said adding that “in the initial phase, the tank’s firing performance was rigorously evaluated and it achieved the required accuracy on designated targets.”

The tank has been successfully developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with private company Larsen and Toubro Ltd.

Numerous Indian industries, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributed to developing various sub-systems, showcasing the strength of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, the ministry said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the successful trial of the Indian light tank was a “significant milestone” towards India's goal of self-reliance in critical defence systems and technologies.