On September 13, 2013, a major deal was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for the manufacturing of 236 additional T-90 tanks for the Indian Army. The defects in the fire control systems of T-90S tanks due to excessive heat in the turrets during the summers, is being remedied through air conditioning of the interior. As per media reports, the Army total requirement is 1,657 T-90S tanks. Additional 347 T-90S tanks were inducted into service which brings the total to 657 T-90S tanks. The first indigenously assembled T-90S rolled out from HVF on January 7, 2004. Of these, 124 fully-assembled tanks were directly imported from Russia and 186 kits were imported for assembly in India.

First batch of MBT Arjun Mark II is likely to go in for production by 2014-15 at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) Avadi.Īs regards the T-90 tanks, 310 T-90S tanks had been ordered from Russia in the first instance. The development of Arjun Mark II tank with 43 improvements has commenced and limited technical trials incorporating the improvements have been carried out in Rajasthan. These tanks will have substantially upgraded capabilities of firepower, mobility and protection. As a result of the satisfactory feedback by the units and from the tank crews, an additional 124 Arjun Mark II tanks have been ordered subject to satisfactory development of the upgraded Mark II version of the tank for equipping two more regiments.

The Army equipped two regiments with Arjun tanks out of the 124 Arjun main battle tanks (MBT) ordered by it earlier. The Army had started inducting Arjun tanks as far back as 2004 but it was much later in 2009 that the tank was fielded in strength. What is worrisome today is that even the desired ammunition of tanks is in short supply. The delays in decisionmaking are substantially enhanced by the innumerable agencies involved, departmental rivalries, general lack of urgency in getting things done and proper resource management. The Indian Army needs to spell out its priorities as far as induction and modernisation programmes of their battle tanks are concerned. Delay in decision-making which is enhanced by the innumerable agencies involved, departmental rivalries, general lack of urgency in getting things done and proper resource management, is affecting the Indian Army’s armour profile.

Modern battle tank of india