Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment
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| Established | March 1976 |
|---|---|
Field of research | Vehicle Research |
| Director | Shri J RAJESHKUMAR Outstanding Scientist & Scientist-H |
| Location | Avadi, Chennai-600 054, Avadi, Chennai |
Operating agency | DRDO |
| Website | CVRDE Home Page |
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Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located at Avadi, in Chennai, India. It is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of armoured fighting vehicles, Tanks, Automotive electronics and many other.
History
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 under the Ordnance Factory Board 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.[1]
During CVRDE's Golden Jubilee in 2024, it was noted by Indian government officials that CVRDE should lend a greater focus on innovation emerging trends in the overall defence industry.[2]
Areas of Work
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.[3]
Projects and Products
CVRDE is the main research lab responsible for the development of the Arjun main battle tank, 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.[4]
Apart from these, CVRDE has also developed other combat and Engineering Vehicles, like Armored Cars, Bridge-layer Tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles[5] 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. Muntra, India's first ever unmanned armored vehicle was developed here.
CVRDE has also developed the Zorawar light tank which, as of 2024, has completed live-fire trials and is also expected to undertake limited user testing in the same year.[6]
Engines and transmissions
DATRAN 1500
Integrated Automotive Vetronics System
600 HP engine
800 HP engine
As of July 2025, the CVRDE issued a Request for Information (RFI) to Indian vendors for the development of an 800 HP engine with an indigenous automatic transmission to power future tracked armoured fighting vehicles of the 25–30 tonne categories. While CVRE will design the subsystems of the powertrain and the core systems, the selected Indian vendors will be responsible for the fabrication, assembly, and tests of the prototype transmission as well as supplier-specific design modifications. The proposed powerpack will be a compact, T-shaped design with modern cooling and fan systems. The interested vendor must demonstrate multiple complex capabilities like experience with automatic transmissions rated above 300 HP and ISO 9001-certified among others. The vendor's facilities must be within India and should be able to supply transmissions at a rate of 100 units per year for at least 30 years. The vendor's project team must have a strength of at least 10 design engineers.[7]
See also
- AVANI
- Arjun (tank)
- Armoured Vehicle Tracked Light Repair
- BLT T-72
- CMF T-72
- Drdo Armoured Ambulance
- DRDO light tank
- M-46 Catapult
- Zorawar (tank)
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."DRDO". DRDO. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ayyappan, V. (16 May 2024). "'Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment should focus more on innovation'". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Call to develop landing gear for aircraft". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 12 December 2011.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Prime Minister presents DRDO Awards – 2009". Press Information Bureau, Mumbai. 26 May 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CVRDE developing new repair and recovery vehicle for Army". IBN Live. Chennai, India. 13 October 2011.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Eshel, Tamir (19 September 2024). "India's Light Tank Zorawar LT Completes Trial by Fire". Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.alphadefense.in (27 July 2025). "India's Complete Spectrum of Tank Engine Development". alphadefense.in. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
External links
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