Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment

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.{{cite web |url=http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/CVRDE/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp |title=DRDO |publisher=DRDO |date=2012-03-14 |accessdate=2012-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119182307/http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/CVRDE/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp |archive-date=19 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |date=2024-05-16 |title='Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment should focus more on innovation' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/combat-vehicles-research-and-development-establishment-should-focus-more-on-innovation/articleshow/110183922.cms |access-date=2024-11-02 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

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.{{cite news|title=Call to develop landing gear for aircraft|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2708551.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=12 December 2011|location=Chennai, India}}

File:CVRDE 600 HP engine.jpg

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.{{cite web |url=http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2010PR917|title=Prime Minister presents DRDO Awards – 2009|date=26 May 2010|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Mumbai}}

Apart from these, CVRDE has also developed other combat and Engineering Vehicles, like Armored Cars, Bridge-layer Tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles{{cite news|title=CVRDE developing new repair and recovery vehicle for Army|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/cvrde-developing-new-repair-and-recovery-vehicle-for-army/856184.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711125035/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/cvrde-developing-new-repair-and-recovery-vehicle-for-army/856184.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 July 2012|newspaper=IBN Live|date=13 October 2011|location=Chennai, India}} 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 LT light tank which, as of 2024, has completed live-fire trials and is also expected to undertake limited user testing in the same year.{{Cite web |last=Eshel |first=Tamir |date=2024-09-19 |title=India's Light Tank Zorawar LT Completes Trial by Fire |url=https://defense-update.com/20240919_zorawar-lt.html |access-date=2024-11-03 |language=en-US}}

• AVANI
• Arjun
• Armoured Vehicle Tracked Light Repair
• BLT T-72
• CMF T-72
• Drdo Armoured Ambulance
• DRDO light tank
• M-46 Catapult
• Zorawar LT

{{Reflist}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20001027140717/http://www.drdo.org/labs/combat/cvrde/index.shtml CVRDE Home Page]}}
• {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20010303092339/http://www.drdo.org/labs/combat/cvrde/achieve.shtml Products developed by CVRDE]}}

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Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratories

Category:Research institutes in Chennai

Category:Research institutes in Tamil Nadu

Category:Research institutes established in 1975

Category:1975 establishments in Tamil Nadu

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