Russia has offered India a proposal to jointly produce the T-90MS main battle tank, seeking to expand long-standing defence cooperation as New Delhi moves ahead with a major programme to modernise its armoured forces.
The proposal was announced by Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport (ROE), which said co-production of the T-90MS could become the next phase of military-industrial cooperation between the two countries. The T-90MS is the export version of Russia’s latest T-90M tank, developed and manufactured by Uralvagonzavod, a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec corporation.
India already operates a large fleet of Russian-origin T-72 and T-90S tanks, many of which are being upgraded by the country’s domestic defence industry. According to ROE, the proposed T-90MS programme would build on existing manufacturing capabilities and technology transfers established through previous agreements.
The Russian company said the project could be implemented in stages. The first phase would involve supplying technological kits for assembly at Indian production facilities, followed by the localisation of component manufacturing.
“The technical foundation created by the technologies already transferred significantly reduces both the cost and the time needed to establish production of the T-90MS and combat vehicles based on it at Indian enterprises,” an ROE representative said.
Russia also proposed integrating technologies from the T-90MS into India’s ongoing modernisation programme for its existing T-90S fleet. According to ROE, many systems and components used in the T-90MS are already common with those found in the T-72 and T-90S platforms, potentially simplifying production, maintenance and logistics.
The company said India’s experience operating Russian armoured vehicles would also reduce the time required to train crews, instructors and maintenance personnel while improving compatibility with existing repair infrastructure and training equipment.
Russian officials have highlighted the capabilities of the T-90MS as part of the proposal. Earlier this year, Rostec Chief Executive Sergey Chemezov said the tank stood “head and shoulders above” comparable NATO platforms. According to ROE, the T-90MS incorporates advanced technologies, including explosive reactive armour, slat armour, electronic warfare systems designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, active protection systems and a differentiated armour protection concept.
The tank is also equipped with a digital fire-control system, integrated command-and-information architecture and enhanced firepower through new artillery ammunition and guided missile systems.
In May, a Uralvagonzavod representative told Russian news agency TASS that feedback from Russian military personnel operating the T-90M during the Ukraine conflict indicated the platform had demonstrated high combat effectiveness. The representative said it compared favourably with Western main battle tanks, including the U.S.-made M1 Abrams and Germany’s Leopard 2.
India has sourced Russian tanks since the 1960s. In 2001, New Delhi and Moscow signed an agreement for the licensed production of T-90S tanks in India. Manufactured as the T-90 Bhishma at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, Chennai, the programme has produced more than 1,000 tanks.
India is currently implementing a five-year armoured modernisation programme valued at more than $7.8 billion. The initiative focuses on extending the operational life and improving the combat capability of existing platforms, including 790 T-72 Ajeya tanks, 200 T-90 Bhishma tanks, 500 BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and 230 armoured recovery vehicles.
Alongside the proposed T-90MS production programme, Russia has also expressed interest in participating in the development of India’s Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme, which aims to procure 1,770 next-generation main battle tanks to replace the country’s ageing T-72 fleet.
According to ROE, the combination of local production, technology transfer and integration of advanced tank systems could allow India to enhance the capability of its armoured forces while reducing costs and accelerating the modernisation process.
