India Purchases More Tanks from Russia

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The Indian Army plans to buy 464 advanced T-90 battle tanks from Russia for deployment on its western borders with Pakistan.

The $2 billion worth contract will include a Make-in-India element for integration at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi.

In the past, the option of exporting Israel’s Merkava Mk 4 tank was under consideration. One potential customer was India. Another possibility was to sell supporting systems such as active protection systems to India.

Now, a concern has been raised in Israel, that the planned deal with Russia would abolish all that potential.

According to Mail Online India, the 10 new regiments of T-90MS tanks, equipped with thermal imaging night sights to allow the tank commander to strike enemy locations during night battles, will strengthen army’s fire power along the land border stretch with Pakistan.

India has already inducted 18 regiments of T-90 tanks which are deployed in Rajasthan and Punjab against on the Pakistan front.

The Indian Army’s 4000- strong tank fleet has been battling with night blindness in the past and these new tanks would help in doing away with that, army sources said. In addition it was found that key systems like the missile-firing mechanism and thermal sights had deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to heat and dust. The Defence Ministry has decided to sort out the issues.

The T-90 has emerged as the main battle tank of the Indian Army and is replacing the older variants of T-72 and T-55 tanks in the force.

India has about 850 T- 90 tanks currently and plans to induct 1,657 by the year 2020.

The target of almost doubling the fleet in next three to four years seems a difficult task because the procurements were stuck due to issues related to escalating cost and local production.

The tanks are considered to be most advanced in the Indian inventory as they are equipped with sophisticated state-of-the-art systems being produced in the country but they did not have air conditioners.

The Army initiated the process to buy ACs to be fitted in the tanks. To meet the challenges on the western front, the government also recently cleared acquisition of missiles and ammunition for these tanks under the fast-track acquisition process.

India’s defence ties with Russia are more than 60 years old and New Delhi was heavily dependent on Moscow for military hardware as it provided over 70 per cent supplies to the forces.