New Delhi: India’s Russian -origin T -72 tank fleet, which was first incorporated in the 1980s, undergoing an upgrade as far as its engines are concerned. The current 780 hp engine is being replaced by people with 1000 hp.
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) on Friday signed a contract with Russia’s Rosoboronaxport, priced at an estimated USD 248 million, fully knocked out the conditions for the purchase of 1000 HP engines for fully formed T -72 tanks, and the semi reduced the conditions.
The deal also includes the transfer of technology (TOT) for M/S ROE from M/S Bakhtar Dahan Nigam Limited (heavy vehicle factory), Avadi, Chennai, for integration and later to promote the “Make in India” initiative, MOD said.
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TOT is for licensed production of engines that will come from Russia to India in the future, which is in the knock down versions with some levels of indigenization. Sources said that the fleet of about 2,400 T -72 tanks of India (including all variants) is the mainstay of the operation of the Indian Army, besides more modern T -90.
Since 2020, against the backdrop of stressful stand -offs with China in eastern Ladakh, a large number of T -72 tanks were quickly included in the area marked by difficult terrain, besides sources, besides those already deployed. During operational need, the soldiers felt that the tank was lagging behind in strength and speed at some places.
This is when the idea of adding a more powerful engine came in the picture, it is learned.
Sources also said that the Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) was planted in 2022 to promote the power of the existing engine. CVRDE managed to increase the power generation of the 780 HP engine produced by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) under a license from Russia, which with a change in design and structure.
But more changes were to be made in the tanks, which increased its weight from about 3 tons to about 44 tonnes. Then another round of tests came.
It was at the point that the army highlighted some issues and the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) was planted. Russian engineers flew to India and offered to integrate a more powerful engine that they installed in T -72 built for them and others.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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