The Hindu : Indigenously-assembled MBT to roll out in September

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Friday, Jul 25, 2003

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Indigenously-assembled MBT to roll out in September

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

The Indian-made main battle tank, Arjun, at the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Avadi. — File photo

CHENNAI JULY 24. The first indigenously-assembled Russian main battle tank (MBT), the T-90 S, will roll out of the Avadi Heavy Vehicle Factory later this year.

"The Heavy Vehicle Factory, Avadi, has just begun the integration of the semi knocked down T-90 units now. We are optimistic that the first tanks will be ready by the end of September," a Defence Ministry official told The Hindu.

Production of the Indian-designed and developed MBT, Arjun, will also commence in about a couple of months. "Two Arjun tanks have already been manufactured and they are undergoing trials," the official added.

Though a few battalions of the Armoured Corps now have the imported T-90 S, Indian armour largely consists of the ageing T-55 and T-72 tanks.

Also, at a time when the Vijayantha tanks were being completely phased out, the Indian armoured corps needed newer versions to keep abreast of the challenges posed by Pakistan acquiring the T-80 tanks from Ukraine.

The Army considered the options before it, which included the indigenously-developed MBT, Arjun, developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Avadi, and the Russian-made T- 90. Once the Rs.3,000-crore deal with Russia for the T-90 S was clinched in 1999, the Army received fully-built tanks to equip a few battalions. The remaining will take the "Avadi route" to the Army, so that experts could learn the intricacies of the T-90 S.

The semi knocked-down tanks were earlier shipped from Russia early this year and Russian experts are helping their Indian counterparts to integrate the parts at Avadi. Once the experts here achieve a sufficient degree of familiarity with integrating the semi knocked-down parts and the subsystems, the later integration will be undertaken with completely knocked down tanks. Production of the tanks under licence from Russia will begin soon after.

According to experts here, the T-90 is actually an improved version of the T-72 tanks. It features a low silhouette and has combined active and passive defences. It has a low rounded turret centred on the hull and is considered among the best protected of MBTs in the world.

Asked about the indigenisation schedule, officials pointed to the experience with the T - 72 tanks. "In that case, the semi knocked down versions were assembled at the HVF from 1987-88 onwards. By 1993-94 the HVF was ready to handle completely knocked down units," an official said and added that in the case of the T-90 S it could take "about two to three years" to reach that stage.

This also offered an opportunity for the local industry in Chennai and elsewhere to collaborate with the HVF on a project of great importance to the country, the Defence officials said.

The Indian-made MBT, Arjun, will be extensively tested with the help of foreign experts and also taken to field areas for additional tests before production of the remaining tanks are taken up.

The testing process could consume about two months, sources said. Once this is over and once the MBT met the benchmarks set by the Army, production of the remaining lot will commence.

While the newer versions would be added over the years, the Army will continue to induct the upgraded version of the T-72, the T-72 M, to meet immediate requirements. The HVF will manufacture the T-72 M tanks for the next two years.

The factory will also handle the additional responsibility of overhauling the tanks now in service. Normally, a tank undergoes three overhauls during its lifetime.

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