In 2010, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) planned to develop an improved version of the Arjun Mk1 Arjun Mk2 main battle tank, later renamed Arjun Mk1A. The car is designed to increase firepower, maneuverability and survivability. MK1A has 89 major and minor improvements, 73 of which can easily be added to MK1. Major improvements included the use of improved "Kanchan" ceramic composite armor, NERA armor, explosive reactive armor (ERA), SAMHO artillery-launched missiles, integration of the automatic target tracking system into the gunner's main sight, integration of the CPS MK-II commander's perimeter, laser rangefinder and double-rate daytime sight. In 2020, DRDO successfully launched SAMHO with Arjun Mk1. SAMHO is a multipurpose missile with a tandem armor-breaking warhead that can deal with armored units within 1.5-5 km or helicopters flying at low altitudes. The fire control system is connected to an uncooled thermal imager with hunter-kill capability. The vehicle also provides the driver with uncooled binocular sight glasses.
Mk1 launches SAMHO
Mk1A lowered the height of the hull and turret, A remote-controlled weapon station with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun was installed; a double minesweeping plow; a containerized ammunition box (CABIS) with separate shutters to isolate ammunition from the crew; an advanced land navigation system; a laser warning and electronic countermeasures system; a new auxiliary power unit (APU) with a power of 8.5 kW and double the power generation capacity of the old model; a redesigned liquid-gas suspension system with a new Advanced Transmission System (ARGS) for enhanced flexibility; constant power, so the maximum speed starts from 70 km/m / h reduced to 58 km / h. The front of the Mk1A turret is attached to the ERA similar to the "Contact-5" on the T-90S, which may be based on the latter's technical development.
Weighing 68.5 tons, the Mk1A is 10 tons heavier than the standard Mk1 and heavier than the M1A2, Challenger 2 and Merkava Mk.4, and cannot be transported by the Indian Air Force's Il-76 transport aircraft, only on the C-17, and India ordered 11 C-17s. The proportion of imported parts for the car fell from 63% to 59% in the Mk1. In 2018, the MK1A produced 2 prototypes for testing, both of which are now tested and entered service with the Indian Army, and the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) also ordered 118 Mk1A for the Army on September 23, 2021 with a contract value of US$1.02 billion, with the first 5 units to be delivered within 30 months. The vehicles will be produced by the Heavy Vehicle Plant (HVF) in Awadi City, Chennai Port.
In March 2022, Bahrain and India entered into negotiations to purchase Mk1A, the outcome of which is unknown.
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