India is upgrading all its battle tanks; here's why it's a major strategic move
The ABW began this major initiative in 2023 under the guidance of General Upendra Dwivedi. This facility has become a key part of India's defence strategy. It focuses on updating over 2,400 T-72s, 1,200 T-90s, and more than 100 Arjun Mk-1 tanks.
These upgrades include better fire control systems, stronger armor, and improved engines. By doing this work in India, the country reduces its reliance on foreign suppliers. This effort fits well with the 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' missions, which aim to boost local manufacturing and innovation. The 2019 agreement with the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Chennai to deliver 464 T-90 tanks by 2027-28 will further strengthen India's tank forces and regional military power.
In today's world, drones have changed the way wars are fought. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show how drones can easily target tanks. To fight back, India is introducing 75 anti-drone (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems or C-UAS) units for T-72 and T-90 tanks. These systems come with two main technologies: Soft Kill and Hard Kill. Soft Kill works by jamming a drone's GPS or radio signals, which confuses the drone and makes it crash or retreat without using any weapons. Hard Kill is more aggressive - it uses machine guns, lasers, or small missiles to destroy the drone completely.