Indian Army’s strength along the Western frontiers with Pakistan especially in Jammu and Kashmir will get major boost with Government decision to clear purchase of 464 Russian-origin upgraded T-90 `Main Battle Tanks’ on the Line of Control (LoC) to meet with any eventuality on the borders, reports Daily Excelsior on May 7. Official sources said that the process for procurement of upgraded T-90 Main Battle Tanks, which have been named as ‘Bhishma’ has been set into motion by the Ministry of Defence after nod to the project by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The purchases were estimated to cost INR 13,448 crore. “The indent to produce 464 T-90 tanks would soon be placed on the Avadi Heavy Vehicle Factory [Tamil Nadu] under the Ordinance Factory Board as the Cabinet Committee on Security has already cleared the project,” sources said, adding that deployment of tanks would actually be started in 2022 and could be completed around 2026.
According to reports, Pakistan is also discussing a deal with Russia for acquiring about 360 such tanks to counter India’s strength which will increase manifold with the deployment of upgraded T-90 Main Battle Tanks on the Western frontiers especially on the LoC falling in Jammu and Kashmir.