Pakistan planning to buy 600 MBTs, including T-90 Russian ones.

Pakistan is planning to revamp its armoured fleet by 2025, in order to reduce the gap between its forces and the Indian ones, by purchasing 600 main battle tanks including Russian T-90 and Chinese VT-4.

T-90 at the Oboron Expo 2014 in Russia (Picture Source : Army Recognition)

Therefore, Islamabad appears to be ready to purchase 360 Russian T-90 main battle tanks, but also Chinese VT-4 (MBT 3000) tanks armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun fitted with a thermal sleeve and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and Ukranian Oplot-P tanks armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun. These tanks would be deployed along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, which could increase tensions between India and Pakistan.

The T-90 MBTs are 46 tons tanks developed by Kartsev/Venediktov Burcau. These tanks have been created to provide enough space for 3 crew members and are armed with a 2A46M 125mm smoothbore gun and a 12.7mm Kord Heavy machine gun. They are also able to provide anti-aircraft options, thanks to their NSVT 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine-gun.

Pakistan will also acquire 245 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers M109L Italian guns and 120 of these guns have already been delivered. And it appears that the Pakistan MoD would also like to acquire Russian Su-35 fighter jets in the coming years.