T-90 News and Discussion

[ejaz007]

Indian T-90 Tanks Struggle in Summer Desert Heat
By vivek raghuvanshi
Published: 16 Jul 11:04 EDT (15:04 GMT)

NEW DELHI - The Indian Army has floated a request for information to integrate an air-conditioning system along with additional power sources in its fleet of Russian-made T-90 tanks, which have had difficulties when operating in desert conditions of temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius

An Indian Army official said that some of the tanks' computerized systems failed in summer desert heat.

India purchased the T-90 tank from Russia in 2001 as the homegrown Arjun tank did not meet Army expectations while Pakistan had acquired T-80 tanks from Ukraine.

Under the $795 million deal, 310 T-90 tanks were procured from Russia. In 2007, the Indian Army gave a fresh order to buy an additional 330 T-90s and there are plans to license produce another 1,000 by 2020 at Indian facilities.

Indian T-90 Tanks Struggle in Summer Desert Heat - Defense News

 

[ejaz007]

Russia To Turn Over Tank Technology to India
By vivek raghuvanshi
Published: 19 Aug 13:02 EDT (17:02 GMT)

NEW DELHI - Moscow has agreed to transfer some T-90 tank technologies to Indian production agencies, giving Indo-Russian defense ties a big boost.

The state-owned Ordnance Factories Board, which administers India's 39 ordnance factories, had concluded the technology transfer agreement with Russia in 2001, a board senior executive said, but Moscow refused to transfer to India key barrel specifications and other technologies, leading to delays in the production at Indian factories.

A senior Indian Defence Ministry official said the transfer of Russian technology relating to some parts of the T-90S will accelerate production of the tank at the state-owned Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory.

The Russian-made T-90 is the main battle tank of the Indian Army, which has 310 and has agreed to acquire 1,000 T-90S tanks produced under license in India. The Army should have the locally built tanks by 2020.

The Indian Army has planned 21 regiments of T-90S tanks. An armored regiment typically has 45 tanks, along with another 17 for training.

Since early 2007, there have been problems between India and Russia over several defense projects as Moscow has demanded higher prices. The result has been stalemate over several projects, including India's acquisition of the retired Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshokov.

Russia To Turn Over Tank Technology to India - Defense News

 

[ejaz007]

Russia Finally Agrees to Full Transfer of Technology of T-90 Tanks to India
Dated 19/8/2008


The Russian Federation has finally agreed to transfer key technology for the advanced T-90 tanks enabling Indian armament factories to now go ahead with production of these weapon platforms indigenously.

"Russians have finally agreed to supply specifications of the T-90 tank barrels by end of this year," a top Defence ministry official confirmed today after the two-day long intensive deliberations between the two countries. The delay in providing the specifications had held up the indigenous production of the T-90 tanks at the Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory.

India and Russia have signed agreements for delivery of almost 1,200 T-90 tanks at a cost of a staggering US 1.2 billion dollars. The deal, concluded in three tranches over the past five years, also specifies transfer of technology for production of another 1,000 to 1,500 tanks in India.

At the 8th meeting of the Indo-Russian working group on shipbuilding, aviation and land systems, Moscow also agreed to full product support for indigenous production of these tanks. "The Russian side have agreed that the delivery schedule mutually accepted by the two countries in June this year would be maintained," the official said.

With this crucial agreement, it has become apparent that the Indian army would continue to rely on the Russian tanks as its main battle tanks. This is significant as the indigenous Arjun tanks have yet to pass the crucial induction trials. Though the Ordnance Factories Board had concluded the technology transfer agreement with Russia way back in 2001, Moscow's reluctance to part with key barrel specifications had held up the indigenous production of the tanks.

At the meeting co-chaired by Ajay Acharya, Additional Secretary, Defence Production, and his Russian counterpart Karavaev Igor Evgeniyevich, New Delhi also submitted its technical requirements for the joint development of a futuristic 5th generation fighter aircraft. Though the aircraft design is yet to be finalized, the two countries have agreed to step up efforts to ensure that the new fighter enters flying service by 2015.

The key working group met within the framework of the Indo-Russian intergovernmental commission military technical cooperation and also took up issues for supply of Russian sub-systems for India's new range of P-17A warships. "The talks were held in a highly professional manner. Sides expressed their readiness to take all the necessary measures to further develop cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis," Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.

Russia has also agreed to open cooperation with the blue chip public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as an offset partner for future programs.

Russia Finally Agrees to Full Transfer of Technology of T-90 Tanks to India | India Defence

 

[ejaz007]

Same news given by two different sources. While foreign news agency indicates transfer of technology relating to some parts Indian side is carrying the same news but with completely different title.

Guess patriotism is higher than professionalism.

 

[fatman17]

INDIAN ARMY WANTS TO ADD ANOTHER 1,000 T-90S TANKS BY 2020

India’s main battle tanks had one been relatively advanced by world standards, but long delays in fielding the indigenous “Arjun” MBT, combined with a successful Pakistani/Ukrainian program for its T-80UD “Al-Khalid” tanks, eroded India’s local advantage. The poor performance of T-72s in combat against modern main battle tanks could not have been comforting, either. In early October 2006, India Defence and Indian papers reported that the Indian Army intended to produce nearly 1,000 T90S ‘Bhishma’ main battle tanks in India by 2020. These would be bought in addition to the 310 T90 MBTs already under contract from Russia. Later that month, news reports noted a follow-on contract for another 330 T-90S tank kits from Russia that would assembled in India. Taken together those 2 firm production agreements reportedly exceed $1 billion.

The modernized T-72 now known as the T-90 has reportedly encountered serious problems in Indian service, from issues with its Thales thermal imaging systems, to difficulties in hot weather, to low readiness rates. Meanwhile, negotiations with Russia over technology transfer issues had shelved the 1,000 tank indigenous production goal, leaving only the 2 firm production agreements. The Arjun project has continued to fade, however, with the Indian Army announcing in July 2008 that production would be capped at just 124 tanks. As the final act in the battle for the core of India’s future tank force, recent reports indicate that the Russians have removed their technology transfer roadblocks, clearing the way for fully indigenous T-90S production in India…

The T-90 in India: Directions and Delays

Defense Industry Daily - Military Purchasing News for Defense Procurement Managers and Contractors

 

[jaison]

t-72 upgrades are really good it has new fcs,latest era,nbc protecrion,plans are there to equip it with BEML 1000hp engine in a mobility upgrade project.......dont care if arjuns are inducted in large numbers or not but in the battlefield we will have the edge.

 

[JK!]

The Ukraine as a region had some of the best idustrial infrastructure in the whole of the former Soviet Union and upon the split of the latter it was able to retain this capability.

I do agree that Al Khalid is a rejected Chinese design however that may be due to the similarities it has with the Type 85 which have been upgraded to Type 85 III or Type 96 standard which I view as on par with Al Khalid.

Besides I have heard very few complaints regarding Al Khalid and quite a few regarding Arjun. Internationally the Pakistani Tank program has been viewed as a success when compared to Indias.

 

[jaison]

The Ukraine as a region had some of the best idustrial infrastructure in the whole of the former Soviet Union and upon the split of the latter it was able to retain this capability.

I do agree that Al Khalid is a rejected Chinese design however that may be due to the similarities it has with the Type 85 which have been upgraded to Type 85 III or Type 96 standard which I view as on par with Al Khalid.

Besides I have heard very few complaints regarding Al Khalid and quite a few regarding Arjun. Internationally the Pakistani Tank program has been viewed as a success when compared to Indias.

true and the last statement of u is spot on but please mention china and ukraine which hav contribute a lot and for india germany must be included.
i agree that arjun project is viewed as a failure when compared to ak
but then there are technological gaps between ak and arjun,today arjun is even superior to t-90 but unfortunately we cant induct it in large no due to cost and infrastructure issues,but both projects have improved tank building bases in both countries.

 

[JK!]

On paper I really like Arjun as it fulfills the three requirements of Tank warfare which are:

Firepower (120mm rifled gun and Israeli Lahat missile)

protection (seperate crew compartments from ammunition, blow out panels and Kanchan armour)

mobility (a 1400hp engine)

I also like the proposed variants and the idea of Tank Ex to bring commonality to the armour fleet.

Its just a shame that DRDO hasn't been able to deliver this capability to the Indian Army or considered the logistics problems in full.

 

[Niazi9]

Georgian crisis showed that when it comes numbers and armor....the old paradigm holds up especially with Air superiority. Our nuclear doctrine ensures that we won't have to win a conventional armor war with India.

 

[JK!]

The Georgian crisis also showed the need for crew protection systems in Russian/Chinese MBTs as there are numerous photos of T72 turrets flung off like a jack in the box after the carousel autoloaders have been hit or cooked off.

 

[jaison]

Georgian crisis showed that when it comes numbers and armor....the old paradigm holds up especially with Air superiority. Our nuclear doctrine ensures that we won't have to win a conventional armor war with India.

ya but doing it non conventionally wont be that easy considering US influence on pakistan and if it does then it will be a bigger disaster for pak than it is for india,so it is better to talk abt conventional war than nuclear war.

 

[jaison]

On paper I really like Arjun as it fulfills the three requirements of Tank warfare which are:

Firepower (120mm rifled gun and Israeli Lahat missile)

protection (seperate crew compartments from ammunition, blow out panels and Kanchan armour)

mobility (a 1400hp engine)

I also like the proposed variants and the idea of Tank Ex to bring commonality to the armour fleet.

Its just a shame that DRDO hasn't been able to deliver this capability to the Indian Army or considered the logistics problems in full.

arjun is fine in reality also but logistics,cost and the fact that it is a contemporary tank has made the army to opt for fmbt,thre are many arjun lovers in the army........you must also understand the armys point that it cant waste energies on contemporary tanks,then u may ask me y go for t-90 which is also contemporary ,it is because the contracts hav been signed and we cannot back of now(like russians do),if we do then we hav to pay large amounts for penalty which the russians will also do.........tank-ex is also a contemporary tank and it was not ment to be inducted by indian army but for bidding in t-72 upgrades across the world.............if we induct a contemporary tank then it will be 2000 t-90+1000 cont mbt which will be cutting edge only for a decade but the present t-72 upgrades fit our requirement so there is nothing to worry.in short the army is saying "we hav wat we need so lets look into the future".