India posses one of the largest mechanised fleet in Asia, which is the strong arm of its conventional deterrence against Pakistan. Operational reliability of this fleet is an important facet of India’s overall defence capability against Pakistan. One of the major feature impacting its operational reliability is the growing obsolesce factor and problems with its main battle tanks.
An important facet of maintaining credible operational capability is what is some time referred to as 30:30:30 concept. It refers to maintaining the fleet in the ratio of 30 per cent obsolete, 30 per cent current with product improvement and 30 per cent state of the art. Problem facing planners is how to address the obsolesce factor as also keep the in-service fleet upgraded and product improved while the more modern and state of the art equipment is introduced into service.
Indian armour fleet comprises 59 armoured regiments, in four basic configurations. Armour Divisions and Independent Armoured Brigades form part of Indian strike formations. Independent armoured and mechanised brigades form part of defensive formations (corps), and lastly there are armoured regiments forming part of the infantry divisions deployed in plains, semi desert and desert sectors. As per Military Balance 2008, the Indian armour fleet is 4059 tanks strong comprising three main battle tanks, viz T-72 M1s, T-90s and indigenously produced Arjun. In addition, there are number of regiments equipped with indigenously up gunned T-55s and Vijayanta tanks, still in service waiting to be phased out.
An important facet of India’s armour profile is that despite assertion by the former Army Chief General JJ Singh that T90 MkI as India’s Main Battle Tank, the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi, (Tamil Nadu) continues to turn out three different types of MBT’s. These include; DRDO-designed Arjun for which Army has placed a one time order for 124 tanks. It is reluctant to induct additional numbers owing to engine and transmission problems.
Other two are Russian-origin MBTs-the 'Ajeya T72M1 built locally under licence by the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi and the T 90s (Bhishma), 310 of which were purchased in first phase of induction programme. 124 in completed form and 186 in CKD kits for local assembly at HVF Avadi. Pending decision on the future of MBT Arjun which Army to date remains reluctant to induct in any large numbers and delays in local production of approximately 1000 T-90 MK I owing to problems of technology transfer and hardening Russian attitude raising important perceptional issues T-72 will remain the principal Indian MBT. However to upgrade its overall fleet and to address obsolesce factor of Vijayanta and T-55’s Army has recently placed an order for additional 347 T-90’s.
Modernisation Programme: T72 M1
While India awaits licensed production of T 90’s to replace the aging T-72M1 Main Battle Tanks, the Indian Army has launched an ambitious mid-life upgrade programme for converting this mainstay of Indian armour fleet to modern battle tank standards. These tanks have provided yeoman service and are much liked by the armour crews for their ruggedness, low silhouette, and relatively accurate firepower (125mm 2A46 smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-air machine gun and 7.62mm co-axial).
Nearly 1800 plus tanks are presently in service. These are being license produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi. Following an important force restructuring study carried out in 2000-2001, a major mid-life up gradation programme was drawn up by the army. However owing to poor fiscal situation in the Nineties, the programme remained largely unimplemented.
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