Now the dark side of T-90 purchase is coming out in open. The formidable Russian tank is showing its lack of high potential for which the Indian Army has been pushing for its future purchase. Now the Generals of not too distant past era (2000-13) are probably sheepish that they have been discouraging the introduction of Arjun Tanks - Mark 1 & 2 on flimsy grounds. It is heartening to note that some of the Arjun technology is going to be used in the existing 600, T-90 tanks.
Is it possible that because of these problems in T-90, the Arjun, 1& 2 will get a push?
Not likely. Admitting an error in judgement in the matter T-90 purchases is not Indian Army's way of moving forward. They would continue to insist that civilian procurement process made a bad deal, although the Army whole heartedly approved the earlier T-90 deal. So where is the civilian authority's fault? I can give you one or two examples i.e. by not asking for air conditioning and the transfer of technology for the barrel written in the contract were grounds enough to hold the final payment. Since it was not written, the Russian were ahead, they got their price they asked for and wrote an intellectual property rights clause in which they would not let any part of the equipment without their express approval, changed
All the forgoing problems in the contracts are not new. Russians, Americans, British, Germans, Swedes etc. negotiate the same terms and conditions. They need the future upgrade business, which is more lucrative. Moreover, T-90 negotiations were over shadowed by the Pakistani purchase of T-80 Tanks from Ukraine. For India the T-90 tank is far superior and air conditioning was not an issue in cold countries like Russia. The Indian Generals forgot about these issues at the negotiating table or during the procurement contract work. Now they are blaming the civilians for that.
But the Russians did well in these contracts. They somehow (may be bribing the Generals) ensured that future supply of another 1,000 tanks would continue. That is where the problem is. Now the Generals are stuck in the existing inventory of T-90 tanks and to continue the additional supply or break free and instead order the Arjun 1 & 2.
The Indian Army has tried its best to disapprove the Arjun 1 & 2 Tanks for one reason or other. Sometime they said its weight is too high, other time they faulted its reliability, at one time they disapproved its engine. But the DRDO in a relentless pursuit together the civilian authorities kept at and kept on improving the performance of the Arjun Tank. Now it has come out ahead of T-90. Realising that they would be forced to buy Arjuns, they wish to incorporate all those improvements which pre-exist in Arjuns into their T-90s into their possession.
Now the Army has backed itself into a corner i.e. - whether to continue to disapprove the Arjuns as they had in the past or switch to Arjuns and place the future 1,000 tanks order with DRDO. This battle will continue for some time.
Its solution is not far off. The existing cream of Armoured Corps Generals who favor T-90 is about to retire. The civilian leadership is about to undergo a change after the May 2014 elections. The new government may insist on Arjuns. That will leave very little room for Generals to argue about. A compromise of improved technology to manufacture Arjuns would clinch the issue. The latter would improve the quality, which the army has been highlighting. The same had been overdue for a while.
The above formulae would be followed in many other upcoming imports.
T-90 is nothing but a T-72 upgrade, that s why the russian army is not buying them in thousands like the IA.
it would be surprising to kn ow that IA is the largest buyer of t-90s in the world.
External AC mountings are filmsy solutions. It will be the first to be hit and fail in the first day of battle.
the cramped interiors of T-90 will encure heat build up and all the electronics will fail.
Even the much thrashed around Bofors gun did its duty and had no quality issues, But T-90 is simply unfit to operate in indian summer conditions,
Why the IA is approaching DRDO now is because no other country is operating such a large number of T-90s no one is willing to split their hair over how to make T-90 operate in inidan summer conditions in a reliable manner(there is no way is another thing for another thread!!!)
SO now the favourite whipping boy DRDO is being dragged into this unholy scam.
If no solutions are found then IA and arms import lobby will trash DRDO to no end, saying it is unfit even to solve the problems in an existing tank, then how can it make a reliable tank in Arjun.
Like HAL did in flatly refusing to assemble pliatus throwing muck in the face of imported air force, DRDO should simply wiggle away from this.Otherwise it is going to be blamed for any failure in T-90s.
Then only will GOI will investigate who approved such a scam tainted purchase with no proper t-90 summer trials.
otherwise every one responsible for the scam called T-90 purchase will escape making DRDO accountable for the failures of T-90.
then all of the T-9's faults like
So here is the list of issues with T90S
1. They didnt sold us Fire control source code
2. No tech for armor (OFB has to use Kanchan for Arjun tank)
3. Gun tech was not give.
4. No AC (DRDO has to make AC)
5. Issue with Thermal sight.
6. No APU.
7. Issues with missile firing earlier (dont know what happen) (even otherwise it does not give any advantage over what Pakistan have)
8. Navigational system.
9. Ammo price 3-4 times then what was sold earlier.
10. No active protection system.
So except for engine and auto loader, you are looking at brand new tank made by DRDO.......................and we paid top $$$ through trials conducted by our DGMF.............
will be thrust on the head of DRDO. Because DDMs will start writing that DRDO is unable to solve the T-90 problem.
DDM will think that fitting an Ac and combat qualifying it is just like fitting a split AC in their bed room.
Then all the troubles of misfiring missiles of T-90 will be attributed to the inadequate cooling systems of DRDO.
And the people responsible for buying T-90 will go scortfree.
A better solution is to sell the T-90s in service to other nations that does not have high desert summer conditions in second hand sale in a phased manner and prepare for a major Arjun induction.
there is no point in producing another thousand T-90s that will need improvised solutions from DRDO, (whose tank Arjun is rejected by IA on all filmsy grounds!!! in favor of the same t-90 that needs DRDO help!!!)
