As part of efforts to enhance its strike capability, the Army is now working on a project to add more teeth to its T-90 main battle tanks by arming them with a third generation missile system.
Currently, the T-90 tanks are equipped with a laser guided INVAR missile system and sources within the army have said that a decision has been taken to replace them with a third generation gun-launched missile.
“As the design of the existing INVAR missile has been maximised, both in terms of range and depth of penetration (DoP), it is imperative to upgrade it to next generation missiles with enhanced capability,” according to a document related to the project.
The Russian-origin T-90 tanks are mainstays of the Indian Army’s offensive formations. The sources said the third generation missile should achieve a DoP of 800-850 mm and will be capable of hitting targets up to a range of 8km in day as well as night.
The missiles, to be fired from the 125mm gun barrels of T-90 tanks, will be able to hit targets by following a flight-path that has been pre-programmed for the projectile prior to deployment.
The missiles should be capable of firing against mobile as well as static targets, the sources said. The Army is also working on a separate project to install a modular engine for the T-90 tanks so as to enhance their strike capability in high-altitude battle field.
Sources said that the proposed modular engine for T-90 tanks is envisaged to have a variable power output of 1200-1500 HP to cater to high battle field agility. Considering the evolving security scenario in the region, the government has taken a series of measures in the last few months to enhance strike capability of the Army.
Last month, the government had empowered the Army to directly procure critical ammunition and spares of major military platforms to maintain combat readiness for short duration “intense wars“. According to the decision, the Vice Chief of Army has been given the “full” financial backing to procure ammunition and spares for 10 types of weapons systems and equipment.
The government has also decided to speed up procurement of key weapons systems and platforms for the Army. In a major decision, the defence ministry on Thursday approved procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from American giant Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army which will be its first fleet of attack choppers.
