The recent Indo-China stand-off caught the nation's imagination when images of the Indian Army's Russian origin T-72, T-90 tanks, and BMP-2 IFVs were deployed to the frontline in Ladakh in the Pangong Tso area. Tensions were at an all-time high and the Indian Army and PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) tanks were just metres away from each other. The tanks only disengaged and returned to depth areas after a disengagement was reached between the two armies. Russian-origin equipment has formed the backbone of Indian military hardware since 1960 and continues until this date.
(T-90s with BMP-2s in an armoured formation supported by Su-25 ground attack aircraft)
Armoured Warfare
Armoured warfare in battle consists of many elements and units in modern warfare. Air Support, in conjunction with anti-aircraft systems, aids in achieving air superiority over the battlefield and shooting down enemy aircraft threatening an armoured unit. A few examples are -
- The tank is meant to be the lead and main offensive weapon in a ground battle. Its large calibre main gun, mounted on a rotating turret, is meant to destroy other armoured vehicles, dug-in enemy infantry, small buildings etc.
- The IFV/ICV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle / Infantry Combat Vehicle)) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle that is used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct offensive fire support to them as dismounted troops advance onto their objective. Modern examples include the American M2 Bradley, Stryker, and the Russian BMP-1/2/3.
- Although an APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) is tracked or wheeled, it carries infantry into battle too. The key difference between an APC and an IFV is the weapon mounted on the vehicle. An APC is usually lightly armed with a weapon of less than 20-mm calibre. Modern examples include the American M113 and the Russian BTR series of APCs.
- The Mobile Armoured AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) & SAM (Surface to Air Missile) units provide protection against enemy aircraft to an armoured column. SAM systems can be portable shoulder-fired systems like the American Stinger, Russian Igla etc. Examples of AAA systems would be the American M163 Vulcan, the Russian ZSU-23-4 Shilka, etc. These armoured and mobile SAM/AAA systems are designed to provide day and night protection for infantry and tank regiments against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles in all weather conditions.
T-54 / T-55
In the early 1960s, the Indian Army Armoured Corps tank fleet was primarily made up of ex-British and US M4 Shermans and M3 Stuarts from World War II, as well as French-built AMX-13 Light tanks and British Centurion tanks.The Indian army also operated a few armoured cars inherited from the British, such as the Humber and Ferret Armoured cars. Some units even operated Daimler Armoured Cars.
After massive losses in the 1962 Indo-China war due to the lack of proper military hardware, the Indian government turned to the Soviet Union for support & building up military capabilities. The Indo-Soviet treaty of friendship later signed paved the gateway for the license manufacturing of Soviet military hardware in India. Some of this equipment helped India fight in the Indo-Pak war of 1965.
The T-54 / T-55 Main Battle Tank was armed with a 100 mm rifled gun (43 rounds) as its primary armament & a secondary 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun or a 12.7-mm heavy machine gun. The T-54 and T-55 tanks are outwardly very similar and difficult to distinguish visually.
By the time the 1971 Indo-Pak war began, the Indian Army had eight regiments of T-54/55 alongside the PT-76, Centurion and Vijayanta (basically a licensed version of the Vickers Mk.1) tank regiments.
One of the T-55 regiments, the 73rd Armored Regiment "Desert Rats" had the unique distinction of being raised right in the middle of the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Even though the T-54s & T-55s were supplied in large numbers, Indian tank crews preferred the lighter and more reliable Centurion & Vijayanta tanks over the Soviet-built tanks.
The T-55 tanks played a very important role during the India-Pakistan war of 1965. Since both India and Pakistan deployed the T-55's, the Indian side fitted the tanks with dummy fume extractors by placing steel tubes on the barrels so as to target the enemy tanks easily.
T-72 - Ajeya
In the late 1970s, the Indian Armoured Corps was looking for a modern replacement for its fleet of British Centurion & Vijayanta tanks and older T-54/T-55 tanks. Trials of AMX-40 & British Chieftain tanks were undertaken, and AMX-40 was eventually considered for license production, but it was soon realised that the AMX-40 was considered too lightly armoured for 1980s standards.
Meanwhile, after coming back to power in 1980, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi requested additional evaluation of tanks from the Soviet Union, following which an offer to supply T-72M tanks and set up lines for licensed-production of the T-72M tank to the MoD-owned Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, was made. The T-72 was equipped with a 125 mm 2A46M main gun. The secondary armament, like the T-55, was a 7.62-mm machine gun or 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
After review of trial results, T-72M were selected as the Army's future MBTs, and a procurement contract for 2,418 T-72s was subsequently inked (direct supply + license production). The T-72M was named "Ajeya". The Indian Army has around 35 armoured regiments operating the T-72.
T-90S - Bhishma
In the early 90s, Russian Army orders for the T-90 had dried up and declined to zero. India was the first export customer for the T-90S. In the 1990s, when Pakistan was close to acquiring improved T-80U tanks from Ukraine, India signalled interest in buying the T-90 (having earlier conducted trials of the T-80 & T-72S).
(Indian Army T-90S manoeuvring in the desert)
The Indian Army was already operating the T-72 Ajeya. The Army was increasingly concerned about losing its armoured edge over the Pakistan army after Pakistan signed a deal with Ukraine to supply T-80UD tanks, including guided projectiles and was fully aware of the T-80's advantages and needed something to counter the new threat from Pakistan.
Following the T-90S's debut at an exhibition in 1997, India approached Russia about a potential purchase and license manufacture of the T-90S. However, India set pre-conditions linked to the T-80UD's features – that the T-90S should have an engine of at least 1000hp, a thermal imaging sight, and the ability to fire guided projectiles. To meet the Indian requirement, the T-90S was fitted with the Chelyabinsk V-92S2 1000-bhp diesel engine (against the original 840 bhp diesel engine).
In the year 2000, the Indian government proceeded to order 310 tanks with a condition that 124 tanks were to be imported directly while the rest were to be assembled in India from CKDs supplied by Russia at the Avadi Heavy Vehicle Factory in Tamil Nadu. The Indian Army named the T-90S "Bhishma".
The T-90, like the T-72, is armed with a 125 mm 2A46M main gun. The secondary gun is a 7.62-mm machine gun or 12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun, and today it is the top of the sword of the Indian Armoured Corps.
The picture above shows the dramatic changes in shape of the T-90 turret - from the cast turret of the original T-90 to the welded turret of the T-90A/S to the enlarged turret of the T-90AM/MS.
Note the two "eyes" on either side of the main gun. Those things are infrared jammers. They turn red and make the tanks look really scary, especially at night. These things are part of the Shtora-1 active protection system, which disrupts laser rangefinders of guided anti-tank missiles. The system uses two interface stations each mounted on the side of the gun, which gives it the "two eyes" look. These jammers are absent on Indian T-90s as they were deemed obsolete.
A top view of the T-90 turret. ERA plates, smoke grenade launchers, and hatches for the Gunner and Commander are all visible.
BMP-1
The BMP is amphibious, propelled through water by its tracks rather than using the waterjet propulsion of amphibious tanks like the PT-76, and has the range and speed necessary to keep up with the fast-moving tanks it normally follows in offensive formations. It is truly India’s first IFV/ICV to enter Indian service.
India produced a licensed copy of the BMP-1, and the Indian Army had 600+ BMP-1s in service. The Indian version differed from the basic BMP-1 model, having a slightly altered turret design.
One of the biggest hurdles to effective manoeuvring on the ground in the 1971 war for the Indian forces was the lack of IFVs. Though the Army had a few TOPAS IFVs in 1971, they were only armed with machine guns, and it was only in the mid-1970s that the highly effective BMP-1 IFV, with its large calibre gun & anti-tank missile capability, was inducted into the Indian Army.
(main 73 mm gun as well as the anti-tank missile launcher)
Indian BMP-1s, as part of the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) contingent, participated in a difficult operation against LTTE rebels in Sri Lanka in October 1987 (Operation Pawan), when IAF transport aircraft flew 2,000+ sorties, delivering T-72 MBTs, BMP-1s and other equipment for Indian Army units which were not equipped with heavy weapons initially. This had been the plan in order to minimise civilian losses and damage done in Jaffna. In some areas, anti-personnel mines planted by the LTTE were countered by driving BMP-1s and T-72 MBTs over them. AFVs were used as support during attacks on LTTE positions.
BMP-2 - Sarath
Impressed with the effectiveness and role of the BMP-1s in ground combat, the Indian government ordered 700 BMP-2s from the Soviet Union in 1984, with most of them being produced in India.
Over the years, hundreds of additional BMP-2s were manufactured in India at the Ordnance Factory Medak of the Ordnance Factories Board under Russian license.The BMP-2 named "Sarath" was a development over the BMP-1 with a 2A42 30-mm auto cannon and the 9P135M ATGM launcher capable of firing *SACLOS guided 9M111 "Fagot", 9M113 "Konkurs" and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" anti-tank missiles.
The BMP-2 turret also houses the Shipunov 2A42 30-mm auto cannon, a cannon that is also used on the Mi-28 & Ka-50/52 attack helicopters and also makes use of guided as well as anti-tank missiles.
Behind the turret is the troop compartment that holds six troops, a seventh sits just behind the driver. The troops sit back-to-back, along the centre of the vehicle. On each side of the compartment are three firing ports with periscopes. Access to the compartment is through the two rear doors, which also hold fuel tanks. Both the doors have integral periscopes and the left door has a firing port.
Sandesh K – Entrepreneur and Military / Aviation historian
* All diecast models supplied by Scale Model Cart