India's plan to bolster military strength
The Ministry of Defence of India has received approval to implement several key programmes to bolster the country's military strength. One such initiative involves modernising T-90S "Bhishma" tanks.
According to Reuters, the Defence Acquisition Council of India has given initial approval for the purchase of weapons and equipment worth approximately £4.9 billion.
This sum will be allocated to enhance the capabilities of India's armed forces and fund programmes such as additional torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare for the Indian Navy, aerial early warning and control systems for the Indian Air Force, and the modernisation of T-90 tanks.
India to modernise T-90S "Bhishma" tanks
Revealed information indicates that the plan includes acquiring more powerful engines for the tanks. The T-90S "Bhishma" is a variant of the Russian T-90S specifically tailored to meet the needs of the Indian army.
Detailed information has not been disclosed, but it has been reported that after modernisation, the T-90S "Bhishma" tanks will be powered by engines producing a power output of 1,350 hp, instead of the current units with 1,000 hp. The armament will remain unchanged, continuing to feature the 2A46M-3 smoothbore gun with a calibre of 125 mm.
India looks at neighbours and draws lessons from the war in Ukraine
The EurAsian Times portal notes that there are currently about 1,300 T-90 tanks in Indian warehouses, mostly the T-90S "Bhishma" models.
The planned modernisation is intended to significantly improve the mobility and readiness of the tanks for operations in challenging terrains, including mountainous regions. The portal suggests that these plans are not only aimed at keeping pace with the armaments of China and Pakistan but are also a result of drawing lessons from the war in Ukraine, which highlighted the vulnerabilities of tanks.
More powerful engines in the T-90S "Bhishma" will ensure that these machines are no longer weaker than the newer T-90MS "Bhishma Mk. III," which are equipped with engines producing 1,130 hp.
In 2019, India signed a contract for the licensed production of 464 units of T-90MS "Bhishma Mk. III," but only a small portion has been delivered to the army so far.
