The Indian Army has initiated a major overhaul of its armoured divisions, deciding to extensively modernise approximately 1,200 of its estimated 2,400 to 2,500 T-72 'Ajeya' main battle tanks.
This move guarantees that a massive segment of its current tracked fleet will remain battle-ready for decades to come.
The decision serves as a vital bridge while the military slowly phases in its ambitious Rs 57,000-crore Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme, which aims to eventually procure 1,770 next-generation tanks.
First inducted in the 1980s, the Soviet-origin T-72 has long been the bedrock of India's mechanised forces, fighting alongside more recent additions like the T-90 'Bhishma'.
Because the 55-tonne FRCV—which is expected to feature artificial intelligence, drone integration, and active protection systems—is still navigating complex design and bidding stages, military strategists have chosen to extensively revamp the existing T-72s to prevent any drop in combat readiness.
Timelines and Service Life
Defence planners confirm that these refreshed legacy tanks will serve as a primary strike force until the futuristic FRCV begins its induction phase, which is targeted for 2030.Even as the new indigenous tanks arrive, the upgraded T-72s are slated to transition into secondary support roles, likely keeping them in active military service until around 2040.
The urgency of this interim modernisation is driven by the practical timeline of the FRCV project. Defence experts project that it will take up to eight years just to finalise the design, conduct trials, and achieve full production clearance for the new generation of tanks.
Furthermore, since the initial FRCV orders are expected to be produced in batches of around 590 units, comprehensively replacing the massive T-72 inventory will take several additional years.
Technological and Mechanical Enhancements
To counteract the mechanical fatigue of the ageing fleet, the government has already executed major procurement deals.In March 2025, New Delhi finalised a $248 million agreement with Russia's Rosoboronexport to acquire 1,000 new, 1,000-horsepower engines. This vital powertrain replacement is engineered to restore the lost mobility and reliability of tanks that have endured decades of harsh deployments.
To ensure the T-72 remains lethal in contemporary warfare, the Army is also accelerating key technological retrofits. A primary focus is the installation of modern Thermal Imaging Fire Control Systems (TIFCS). By late February 2026, the military successfully fitted these advanced sights onto an initial batch of 96 tanks.
Transitioning from outdated optical sights to thermal imaging is a massive leap in battlefield capability. Instead of relying on daylight, thermal systems allow tank crews to spot enemy vehicles through heat signatures, dramatically increasing accuracy and survivability during night operations or in environments with poor visibility.
Scaling Up Domestic Infrastructure
Simultaneously, India's state-run defence manufacturing sector is expanding its capacity to handle this massive refurbishment effort.On January 28, 2026, the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ), managed by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), successfully flagged off its first two fully overhauled T-72 tanks under a new pilot programme. This process strips the tanks down and rebuilds them to a "zero-hour" condition, completely resetting their operational lifespan.
Historically, the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, shouldered the primary burden of tank overhauls. By bringing VFJ online to share the workload, the Indian Army significantly boosts its maintenance bandwidth. This distributed approach reduces the turnaround time tanks spend in the workshop, ensuring more armour remains deployed in the field.
Global Export Potential
Beyond fulfilling its own military needs, India is looking to leverage this vast maintenance experience on the global stage. Defence industry watchers indicate that New Delhi is positioning itself as an international hub for T-72 maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.Many countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia continue to rely heavily on T-72 tanks. For these nations, India's comprehensive upgrade model—offering new engines, thermal sights, and a zero-hour lifespan reset—presents a highly capable and cost-effective alternative to purchasing entirely new armoured fleets.
