SOURCE: AFI
In a strategic push to enhance the combat readiness of its armoured forces, the Indian Army has been overhauling its Russian-origin Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), the T-72 and T-90, at the Army Base Workshop (ABW) in Delhi since October 2024. The initiative, aimed at boosting the lethality, mobility, and protection of these critical assets, underscores India’s focus on modernizing its tank fleet to counter evolving regional threats.
According to highly placed sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the ABW is equipped to overhaul 50 tanks annually, a capacity that is being fully utilized to upgrade both T-72 and T-90 MBTs. “ABW can undertake overhaul (OH) of 50 tanks in a year. Considering the capacity, T-72 tanks and T-90 tanks are being fed to the workshop based on their availability,” a source revealed. This indigenous facility, one of eight base workshops operated by the Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), is playing a pivotal role in extending the operational life of these tanks, which form the backbone of India’s armoured divisions.
The T-72, inducted in the late 1970s, and the T-90 Bhishma, operational since 2003, together constitute over 3,000 of India’s 4,200-tank fleet, making them the linchpin of its mechanized forces. Facing rugged terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, these MBTs are being refurbished to meet modern battlefield demands. The overhaul program integrates advanced technologies to enhance firepower, mobility, and survivability, ensuring they remain effective against adversaries like China’s Type 99 and Pakistan’s Al-Khalid tanks.
Key upgrades include modernized fire control systems (FCS) for improved accuracy, with the T-72s receiving thermal imaging sights and the T-90s getting enhanced day-night targeting capabilities. Firepower is being bolstered through better ammunition, such as 125mm Fin-Stabilized Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) rounds, some developed indigenously by the DRDO. Mobility enhancements involve engine refurbishments—replacing or upgrading the T-72’s 780-hp V-46 engine and the T-90’s 1,000-hp V-92S2—for better performance in high-altitude regions like Ladakh, where tanks have been deployed since the 2020 Galwan clash.
Protection upgrades are equally critical. Both tank types are being fitted with advanced explosive reactive armour (ERA) panels to counter anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). The T-90s, already equipped with Shtora-1 countermeasures, may see integration of active protection systems (APS) to intercept incoming projectiles, a response to lessons from modern conflicts like Ukraine, where APS has proven vital. Posts on X highlight enthusiasm for these upgrades, with one user noting, “T-90s with APS and thermal sights could dominate our borders for another decade.”
The ABW’s overhaul process involves stripping tanks down to their chassis, replacing worn components, and integrating new systems—a meticulous task that takes about six months per tank. The Delhi facility, staffed by over 1,200 skilled technicians, uses a mix of Russian-supplied kits and indigenously sourced parts, aligning with India’s push for self-reliance. The MoD source emphasized that the workshop’s capacity-driven approach ensures no downtime, with T-72s and T-90s cycled in based on operational urgency and tank condition.
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