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India's primary main battle tank, the T-90 ‘Bhishma’, has been upgraded with a groundbreaking capability, allowing it to operate underwater for up to one hour.
The advanced equipment, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is designed to keep the tank crews fully operational even when their vehicle is completely submerged.
This enhancement significantly boosts the T-90 tanks' ability to navigate and cross rivers, a critical requirement along India’s borders with Pakistan and China.
The Indian Army operates a substantial fleet of over 1,100 Russian-origin T-90 tanks, which form a crucial part of the nation's armoured forces.
The country's terrain, marked by numerous rivers, particularly along its northern and western frontiers, often presents operational challenges for tank movement during military manoeuvres.
While the T-90 tank is inherently designed to handle water exposure, the foremost concern has consistently been the safety and operational effectiveness of its crew, typically comprising four to five members, when the tank is underwater.
Addressing this critical challenge, the newly developed DRDO system enables the crew to breathe comfortably and operate effectively for up to an hour while submerged in water as deep as five metres. This allows the T-90 tanks to undertake river crossings without compromising the safety of the personnel or the tank's combat readiness.
The system ensures that the crew can continue to manoeuvre and operate the tank’s systems efficiently even when fully underwater, thereby strengthening its combat role across diverse and challenging terrains. Such underwater manoeuvrability is a significant force multiplier in riverine environments, often encountered in border regions.
The innovative equipment has successfully completed rigorous evaluations at multiple testing facilities, including those in Ahmednagar and Mundak.
According to defence sources, the technology has now been transferred to defence manufacturing companies for series production. The Indian Army plans to acquire this vital system in two phases, aiming for widespread integration across its entire T-90 tank fleet.
This technological breakthrough significantly enhances the operational flexibility and tactical reach of the T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tanks. It empowers them to navigate India’s river-dense border regions with increased confidence and efficiency.
By equipping tank crews to function effectively even when submerged, the Indian Army is substantially bolstering its strategic capabilities, ensuring that its armoured divisions remain a formidable and adaptable force in any operational landscape.
The DRDO's innovation offers two crucial benefits. Firstly, it greatly improves crew safety by ensuring their survival and operational capacity in the event the tank becomes submerged during a water crossing operation, thereby mitigating inherent risks.
Secondly, it enhances the T-90's overall combat capability by allowing the tank to be operated seamlessly from underwater, facilitating uninterrupted river crossings and maintaining its effectiveness in challenging battlefield environments.
