The T-72, a Soviet-designed main battle tank, has been a cornerstone of many armed forces since its introduction in 1971. Despite its age, the tank continues to play a vital role in military operations worldwide, including in India. Continuous upgrades have kept the T-72 relevant in modern combat, with the latest iteration, the CI-Ajeya, featuring advancements such as a Global Positioning System (GPS), Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), and an Integrated Fire Detection and Suppression System (IFDSS).

The T-72’s River-Crossing Capabilities

One of the T-72’s notable features is its ability to cross rivers. According to former army officers, the tank can cross rivers up to 16 feet deep using a snorkel. The engine must be restarted within six or seven seconds if it stops underwater to prevent flooding due to pressure loss. Crew members are equipped with simple rebreather chest-pack apparatuses for emergencies. Despite the inherent dangers, this capability is crucial for maintaining operational mobility.

The Ladakh Tragedy

The risks of such operations were highlighted in a recent tragedy in Ladakh. During a river-crossing exercise, a T-72 tank with five soldiers on board was caught in flash floods, causing it to sink. This incident underscores the perils faced by military personnel and the sacrifices they make in the line of duty.

Challenges in Modernizing the T-72 Fleet

The Indian Army has long struggled with modernizing its T-72 tanks. Initially relying on the indigenous Arjun tank program, delays led to a shift in focus towards upgrading the T-72 fleet. The Operation Rhino plan aims to re-equip 1,500 T-72M1 tanks with advanced fire control systems, thermal imagers, and navigation systems from international partners. These tanks are also being outfitted with improved fire detection, suppression systems, and laser warning systems to enhance their combat effectiveness.

Efforts Towards Indigenization

India is actively working to reduce its reliance on Russian components for its T-72 tanks. The Indian Army has issued a request for information (RFI) to the private defence industry and public sector undertakings (PSUs) for the overhaul and extension of the tanks’ service life. This initiative is partly driven by difficulties in obtaining spares due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Some domestic companies have shown interest and have succeeded in reverse engineering certain spares and sub-systems.

The Indian Army, which has about 2,400 T-72s, is also upgrading nearly half of its fleet with new engines and modern systems to enhance their warfare capabilities. The RFI specifies that the overhaul should restore the tanks to a condition as good as new, providing a fresh lease of life and ensuring enhanced serviceability and operational reliability. The selected vendor will have ten months to complete the overhaul and must provide a one-year warranty on repaired or replaced parts.

Indigenous Manufacturing and Future Plans

Currently, Russian-made tanks, including the T-72s, are manufactured by the state-owned Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Tamil Nadu. HVF is part of the Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), a defence PSU formed by merging several former Ordnance Factory Boards. In parallel, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking to procure 1,000 engines of 1,000 BHP each for the T-72 under the “buy and make” category. This deal, cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council in 2018, involves manufacturing most of the engines domestically after obtaining the necessary technology from a foreign original equipment manufacturer.

The ongoing efforts to overhaul and upgrade the T-72 fleet reflect India’s broader strategy to become self-reliant in its military capabilities. By fostering an indigenous maintenance ecosystem, India aims to ensure the long-term operational readiness of its armed forces while reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.