Indian army receives first batch of Russian T90MKIII.

During a mid-May handover ceremony, the Indian Army incorporated a first batch of new locally manufactured and licensed T-90 MKIII tanks from Russia. The local company Armored Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) delivered the first 10 units of the T-90 MKIII tanks, which are equivalent to the Russian T-90MS tank.
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T-90 MKIII in service of Indian Army  (Picture source: Indian MOD )

This production took place under a licensing agreement with Russia, signed in November 2019, to locally manufacture these tanks. Later in 2020, the Indian Army decided to purchase an additional batch of 400 T-90S combat tanks. The remaining units of the T-90 MKIII tanks are expected to be delivered over the next five years. Unlike their Russian counterparts, the T-90 MKIII tanks are equipped with a new automatic target tracking system, a sighting system, and a digital ballistic computer.

The T-90MS, also known as the Tagil, is a modernized export version of the main battle tank T-90, developed by Uralvagonzavod. First presented in 2011, this variant was designed with significant improvements in protection, firepower, and combat control systems.

In terms of armament, the T-90MS is equipped with a 125 mm smoothbore main gun capable of firing traditional shells as well as guided missiles. It also has a coaxial machine gun and another mounted on the roof, typically a Kord 12.7 mm, providing effective close defense.

The protection of the T-90MS is enhanced by advanced composite armor and the latest generation of dynamic protection systems named "Relikt." These systems are among the most effective in countering anti-tank weapons. Additionally, the tank has an active protection system (APS) that detects and neutralizes incoming projectiles before they reach the armor.

The Indian version, the T-90 MKIII, is also equipped with a medium wave infrared (MWIR) sight developed jointly by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It can detect targets up to 8 km away, day or night, thanks to thermal imaging and has a laser range finder (LRF) capable of targeting up to 5 km. With the ballistic software and LRF corrections, the T-90 commander can accurately detect, engage, and neutralize targets, as added by the Ministry of Defense.