India has approved the manufacture of 235 T-90 main battle tanks under Russian license 1909131.

Agreement to license production of T-90 tanks was signed in February 2001. This was intended to supply 310 tanks worth $1 billion, half to be manufactured in India with Russian machinery. India plans to manufacture 1,000 T-90 tanks under licence by 2020.

In August, Indian weapons maker Bharat Dynamics signed a contract with India’s defence ministry to supply the army with Invar anti-tank guided missiles for T-90 tanks, made under Russian license. The contract is estimated at 30 billion rupees - $470 million. Deliveries are expected to be completed over the next five years.

In 2001, India bought 310 T-90S tanks from Russia, of which 120 were delivered complete, 90 in semi-knocked down kits, and 100 in completely knocked down kits. The T-90 was selected because it is a direct development of the T-72 that India already employs with 60% logistics commonality with T-90 simplifying training and maintenance. India bought the T-90 after the delay in production of the domestically developed Arjun main battle tank, and to counter Pakistani deployment of the Ukrainian T-80UD in 1995–97.