India has approved the manufacture of 235 T-90 main battle tanks under Russian license

The Defence Acquisitions Council of India’s Defence Ministry has approved the manufacture under Russian license of 235 T-90 tanks in India, “The Times of India” reported on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. An Indian ministry source said a contract for production worth 60 billion rupees - about $1 billion - would be published soon.

Russian-made T-90 main battle tank at Defense Exhibition VTTV Omsk.

Agreement to license production of T-90 tanks was signed in February 2001. This was intended to supply 310 tanks worth $1 billion, half to be manufactured in India with Russian machinery. India plans to manufacture 1,000 T-90 tanks under licence by 2020. In August, Indian weapons maker Bharat Dynamics signed a contract with India’s defence ministry to supply the army with Invar anti-tank guided missiles for T-90 tanks, made under Russian license. The contract is estimated at 30 billion rupees - $470 million. Deliveries are expected to be completed over the next five years. In 2001, India bought 310 T-90S tanks from Russia, of which 120 were delivered complete, 90 in semi-knocked down kits, and 100 in completely knocked down kits. The T-90 was selected because it is a direct development of the T-72 that India already employs with 60% logistics commonality with T-90 simplifying training and maintenance. India bought the T-90 after the delay in production of the domestically developed Arjun main battle tank, and to counter Pakistani deployment of the Ukrainian T-80UD in 1995–97. The T-90 is a further development of the T-72B main battle tank. The T-90 is equipped with precise weapons laying systems enabling the crew to engage ground and air targets. The T-90 is in service with the Russian army, with a total of 550 tanks. The T-90 saw combat action during the 1999 Chechen invasion of Dagestan. According to Moscow Defense Brief, one T-90 was hit by seven RPG anti-tank rockets but remained in action. The main armament is composed of a 125 mm two-axis stabilized smoothbore gun 2A46M. In addition, the T-90 is armed with an 7.62 mm PKT machine gun mounted coaxially with the main gun, and one NSVT 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola.