Article Posted on : - Nov 01, 2009

A File Photo of T-90 Bhisma Main Battle Tank.

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Army Saturday demonstrated its capability to carry out the complex procedure of overhauling the Russian-origin T-90 'Bhishma' tanks indigenously.

The first Russian-built T-90 was overhauled by Army's Delhi-based 505 Base Workshop and was flagged off by Master General Ordnance (MGO) Lt Gen Vinay Sharma here, Army officials said.

The overhauling of the first T-90, they said, cost Rs four crore and was completed within 214 days. Earlier, the tanks were sent through the sea route to Russia for the same purpose.

The capability to overhaul T-90s indigenously, officials said, will help the Indian Army save around Rs 14 crore per tank and will also extend their life by another 15 years.

All the T-90s in the Army from now on will be overhauled within the country, they said. India plans to have around 1600 T-90 tanks in its armoured regiments.

The first batch of 10 licence-produced T-90s built at Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi, Tamil Nadu, was inducted into the Army in August 2009.