By the end of 12th Five Year plan, some
armoured regiments will replace the T-72 with T-90 tanks.
The rest of armoured regiments having T-72 tanks will undergo
major modification such as introduction of an upgraded 1000
BHP engine and thermal imaging fire control system, said
a defence laboratory official based at Jodhpur.
The Army recently commenced a project to upgrade its T-72M1
Main Battle Tanks. Over the past two decades, the T-72M1
has provided yeoman service to the Army. It is well liked
by the Army for its ruggedness, low silhouette and weight
(41.5 tons) as well as firepower.
The T-72M1 is the backbone of the Indian armoured fleet
with over 1700 tanks believed to be in service. Licence
production of the tank was undertaken at the Heavy Vehicles
Factory at Avadi, Tamil Nadu. To keep the tank fleet viable,
an upgrade plan was drawn up by the Army. But during the
early 1990s, the economy went through a tumultuous phase
and the resulting fiscal problems forced these plans into
abeyance.
Now the economy is on an upswing and the Army has hence
been allocated funds to pursue this critical modernization.
The tank upgrade will proceed in stages. The upgradation
has begun by bringing 250 tanks to the DRDO's (Defence Research
& Development Organisation) 'Combat Improved' Ajeya
standard. (The T-72M1 has been renamed 'Ajeya' in India).
Defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said: "At present
the main stay in terms of the number of India's armoured
regiments is the T-72 tanks followed by T-55 tanks. The
T-90 and Arjun provide the cutting edge. However, by the
end of the 11th plan, all T-55 tanks will be replaced
by T-90 tanks.
