The Indian Army has received approval from its Ministry of Defence (MoD) to move ahead with its planned upgrade of more than 600 Russian-built T-90 main battle tanks (MBTs).
An MoD official told Defense News that the tender for the T-90 tank modernisation will be sent only to the local defence companies.
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More than $250m are scheduled to be spent on installation of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-built air-conditioning systems, and replacement of the tanks’ existing thermal imaging sights, navigation systems and fire control systems.
India had signed contract with Russia for supply of 310 T-90s in 2001, 190 of which were license-produced by Avadi-based Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), and followed it up with a second contract in 2007 for the licensed production of additional 330 tanks.
One Army official said the absence of an air conditioning system in T-90 tanks caused damage to their thermal imaging systems during operation in hot climates.
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Indian Army retired brigadier general and defense analyst Arun Sehgal said: "DRDO had earlier attempted to mount air conditioning systems on the tanks, but were stopped by Russia, citing intellectual property rights.
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By GlobalData"The Russians were then asked to fit the air conditioning systems in the T-90 tanks, but the attempt was unsuccessful."
The Indian Army is planning to acquire a total of 1,657 T-90s by 2020, 1,000 of which will be domestically manufactured under full transfer of technology (ToT) from Russia.
The indigenous production is yet to commence, even though a contract has already been signed with Russia.
Russia insists that it has supplied all necessary technology, and the Avadi factory is responsible for production delays.
Image: The Indian Army T-90 tanks during the rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade. Photo: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
