Armour
The Indian Army's Armoured Corps has also been affected by the slowdown in the economy that has impacted the modernisation drive to replace/upgrade its massive tank fleet. This means that armoured regiments will have to make do with their older tanks which suffer from night blindness, lack modern fire control systems and have underpowered power packs.
The Indian Army will continue to field close to 3,000 upgraded T-72 and T-90 MBTs over the next two decades, with the T-90s serving till 2030 and beyond. Almost half of the 1,657 T-90 tanks planned have already been inducted as of last year. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) also approved the manufacture of an additional 235 T-90S tanks worth almost Rs 6,000 crore last year. The Indian Army is now said to have only 800 T-90 tanks in service out of a planned total of 1,657 (plus 235 from the latest order).
In August last year, Bharat Dynamic Limited (BDL), Hyderabad, signed a contract for supplying Invar Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) to the Indian Army valued at Rs 3,000 crore. Deliveries are expected to be completed by 2018 and BDL has been manufacturing these missiles under technical collaboration with M/s Rosoboronexport of Russia. The T-90 is capable of firing the Invar which is a laser beam rider ATGM. It has a range of five km and is capable of destroying enemy tanks fitted with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protection. There are also plans for the license manufacture and delivery of advanced 3UBK20 (Mango) tank ammunition. All 16,000 rounds from a 2010 order for Fin Stabilized Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) ammunition would have been delivered by now.
The shortage of ammunition for the T-72 and T-90 tanks has been an area of concern for quite a while now as indigenous efforts to produce state-of-the-art ammunition have not been very successful. The ageing T-72 tanks have experienced bursting tank barrels, with over 200 such cases having been reported last year according to reports in the media. Reports now suggest that the T-72s will have their main gun barrels replaced with that of the T-90 and approximately 800 T-90 barrels are likely to be procured in the near future. Facilities for overhaul of Tank T-72 were established in 1994 at HVF Avadi and in order to enhance the annual overhaul capacity, parallel facilities for overhaul were also created at 505 Army Base Workshop in 2005.
The Arjun Mark-II MBT is undergoing user trials and if all goes well, production orders should be placed next year. As per plans, at present orders for 118 Arjun Mark-IIs have been placed and HVF Avadi would be in a position to deliver the first tank 30 months after the order is placed. With a production rate of 30 tanks a year, the entire order would be completed by 2021 (realistically, this is likely to slip by a few years). Deliveries for 124 Arjun Mark-I tanks are now complete and 43rd armoured regiment at Jaisalmer and 75th armoured regiment have 45 tanks each. No further orders are expected for the Mark-I, which cost Rs 20 crore a piece. The cost for each Arjun Mark-II is estimated at around Rs 34-37 crore.
Major improvements featured on MBT Arjun MK II over MK I
1 To provide Missile Firing Capability using LAHAT missile and Add-on Laser Target designator
2 Commander's Panoramic Sight with Thermal Imager will provide day and night surveillance with third generation thermal Imager
3 Ten round containerized bin for enhanced crew protection
4 Roof Mounted Driver's Seat (RMDS) that provides protection for driver against mine blast
5 Uncooled Thermal Imager (Driver's Night Sight) that facilitates night driving through sight with Thermal Imager
6 Incorporation of Mine plough with magnetic signature duplicator. The Magnetic Signature duplicator will detonate magnetically influenced mine ahead to tank by projecting magnetic image of tank
7 Incorporation of Explosive Reactive Armour panels that provide protection against tandem warheads and kinetic energy projectiles.
8 Remote firing of Air Defence gun (360 degrees) by the loader with hatch closed
9 Effective Alternate to Muzzle Reference System (MRS)
10 Advanced Land Navigation System that provides for navigation using GPS and inertial navigation
11 Automatic Target Tracking (ATT) in Gunner's Main Sight that aids the gunner to automatically track the target enhancing accuracy and provides for ease of engagement
12 Advanced Running Gear System that caters for increased weight of ARJUN MBT MK II (about 66 tons)
13 New track with increased horn height to cater for increased weight of ARJUN MBT MK II (about 66 tons)
14 New final drive with increased reduction ratio that enhances tractive effort and caters for increased weight with added benefits
15 Laser Warning Countermeasure System enables identification threats and taking evasive action using smoke Grenade Discharger
16 New types of ammunition with increased penetration cater for the current threat spectrum
17 Resin based Combustible Case Cartridge for ammunition
18 It provides effective camouflage against detection through thermal imager
Since 2012, the Indian Army has also been seeking to upgrade its Infantry Combat Vehicles from BMP-2/2K to BMP-2M along with a new power pack for an estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore (USD 1.3 billion). The BMP-2 is the main combat vehicle used by mechanised infantry units of the Indian Army.
As per the Request for Information (RFI) that has been released by the army "BMP-2M is envisaged to have the same physical specifications as BMP-2/2K with minor changes. The thrust of upgrades will be to provide better observation and surveillance, night-fighting capability, fire control system, improved ATGM system and 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) to provide capability to engage dead ground to support assault of dismounted troops. The changes should be without replacement of existing turret, with minimum cutting of armour." Approximately 1,400 ICVs are expected to be upgraded.
The army is also looking for a 'new power pack with a minimum 360 HP engine including running gear and suspension' for its BMP-2/2Ks. Presently, they are fitted with indigenised UTD-20 engines. According to the army, the UTD-20 engine has a power output of 285 (±15) which is inadequate for BMP-2/2K as it, affects 'cross country mobility, floatation and gradient negotiating capability' and is unable to take any add-ons. The new engine with running gear and suspension will offer better mobility, acceleration and gradability (ability to climb slopes). Requirements as per the RFI call for power-pack life expectancy of 8,000 km/800 hr and ability to operate at an altitude of 14,000 feet with adequate power to negotiate obstacles, among others.
