Indian Army Faces Critical Decision on Overhauling its Armoured Fleet Amid T-72 Tank Retirement

The Indian Army is preparing for a significant overhaul in its armoured fleet due to the upcoming retirement and storage of more than half of its T-72 tanks in the next 7-8 years. These reliable Soviet-era tanks have been the backbone of the Indian Army since 1982, but they are now nearing the end of their service life. Unfortunately, the replacement programme, the Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT), has been stuck for over a decade due to delays.

The Army currently operates approximately 2,400 T-72 tanks, with many surpassing their 30-year service life. Although extensive overhauls have extended their lifespan by 10-15 years, these tanks do not possess the modern capabilities required for today's warfare. The Russia-Ukraine war has made it more challenging to access essential spare parts for maintenance and repairs, further complicating the situation.

The Army is planning to enhance more than 1,200 T-72s by installing new engines, fire control systems, and other upgrades to bridge the gap. Nevertheless, over 1000 T-72 tanks will remain unupgraded and unable to participate in combat. The most recent 98 T-72s were put into service in 1998-99, indicating that even the newest T-72 Tanks are approaching the 30-year shelf life recommended by the manufacturer.

The FMBT programme aimed at replacing the T-72s with a tank developed domestically has faced delays and indecision. This situation puts the Army in a challenging position, facing an ageing fleet with no clear way forward. However, DRDO is planning to further develop Arjun Mk1A, Mk2, and even Mk3 to address the vulnerabilities of the T-72 fleet in modern warfare, where they may be exposed to modern ATGMS.

Dealing with the Indian Army's T-72 dilemma is a complex challenge. It is essential to adopt a multi-pronged approach that includes modernization efforts and a clear roadmap for the FMBT programme or strategic foreign partnerships to ensure the Army maintains a modern and effective Armoured force. The future of India’s Armoured might is at a critical juncture, and the choices made in the upcoming years will have long-term implications.

 

[Akshat]

Most project are stalled or having performance issues. India is suffering from mediocre workforce and will until reservation exists

Bro, it has been proven via research that reservation has improved the performance of organizations in India, not damaged it.

 

[Akshat]

If you expect first time a company /org making a tank with peanut level funding to be at the level of best you are fooling yourself

Peanut level funding???? DRDO gets blank check level of funding and full support with orders even when the product doesn’t meet the requirements!!!!

 

[Akshat]

All the army wants is phoren maal, it junked Arjun, Artillery guns. It just wants imported ones, they really need to learn from Navy.

When DRDO intentionally makes products in a way that ensure that they fail army’s requirements, then what can the army do?

 

[bonito]

Bro, it has been proven via research that reservation has improved the performance of organizations in India, not damaged it.

And that research was conducted by JNU mediocres ?

 

[Akshat]

And that research was conducted by JNU mediocres ?

So instead of countering with numbers and data you badmouth the authors of a peer reviewed research paper. Interesting. Just to be clear, it was a joint research by Delhi School of Economics and University of Michigan.

 

[Mango_Indian]

Indian army already had modified the original T72, called Ajeya. It was later upgraded with ERA and all, called Ajeya 2. After that Army had launched a new upgrade program, which was hijacked by DRDO and some of those components are not ready till date.

No thermals, no commander sight, no active protection system, no engine upgrade....Slapping ERA bricks and 81mm smoke grenade on T-72 and calling it an "upgrade" and giving it a new name is a JUMLA.

 

[Sandeep]

Currently India are developing its own brand new indigenous FMBT which will be ready over the next two years. India has been developing the key technology like engine, APU, EW, APU, target tracking, remote machine gun, tank operating system, new stronger hull, NERA etc.

If there will be anymore delays beyond 2025 then the military will order a more upgraded T90 tank or modernise the current stock and start production of the Arjun MK1A which has been delayed as Germany has delayed supplying the tank engines we want. Also the T72 has already had a life extension program to enhance its combat potential but I don't think it's possible to upgrade it even more. India will work with the indigenous technology and education but speeding it up is the key and there shouldn't be any minister.

 

[Akshat]

No thermals, no commander sight, no active protection system, no engine upgrade....Slapping ERA bricks and 81mm smoke grenade on T-72 and calling it an "upgrade" and giving it a new name is a JUMLA.

Most of what you mentioned were planned in the upgrade. DRDO just failed to make them.

 

[RG]

All projects will suffer as long as it is with only public sector, they are straddled with bureaucracy, too much paper work and happy with license production, while armed forces only of dream specs from brochures and even after continuous failure, they do not mend their way, take for example Bhisma, they want all upgrades and feature from domestic product, but is willing to import half baked products and continuously upgrade it. The same approach can be taken for local production. create couple of product category, develop shell and then add bells and whistle. Enough skill might have been developed with Arjun experience, involve the private players from Kalyani to whosever is willing to provide and has interest. Develop engine, guns and turrets on a national mission. It is ludicrous to see project delayed due to engine sanctions, gun sanctions tomorrow it will be even toilet sanctions.

 

[GMR]

IA will always be in dilemma in every procurement due to its attitude, lack planning, unwillingness to chalk out a time bound process, biasnes in favour of imported platforms, etc.. etc.. Even IAF has shown willingness lately to change & has initiated / done many procurements to modernise itself..

 

[bonito]

So instead of countering with numbers and data you badmouth the authors of a peer reviewed research paper. Interesting. Just to be clear, it was a joint research by Delhi School of Economics and University of Michigan.

Just be logical. You don't need a research it just needs common sense to say the quality will deteriorate if the teacher is a just pass candidate. You can't deny this unless you are one. Would you agree to have your kids to be taught by such a teacher ? Would you like your mom to be operated by a just pass medical doctor ? Would you risk building a home by a mediocre engineer ? Do you need a leftists sponsored research study for this ?

 

[Sunnyj]

We so love our bhangaar ❤️.