India plans to decommission and upgrade T-72 tanks for export

India has about 2,500 T-72 tanks in service, with the first batch of tanks received in the late 1970s. The advanced age of the T-72s, which were built by the Soviet Union, has increased operating costs and reduced reliability, forcing the Indian army to prioritize ordering the T-90 tanks, according to Military Watch Magazine on September 22.

T-72 Ajeya Mark I tank of the Indian Army

PHOTO: ARMY RECOGNITION SCREENSHOT

A senior Indian official said the decommissioned tanks would be modernized and exported to other countries. The overhaul of the retired tanks would take place at the heavy vehicles plant in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, which was previously licensed to produce the T-72 and now produces the T-90.

The global surplus of T-72 tanks has shrunk in recent years, as European countries have transferred the tanks to Ukraine, while Russia and Belarus have added their reserves to new units. If exported, India’s T-72 will also face competition from China’s VT-4 and North Korea’s Cheonma-2, which are both later and have technological advantages.

However, the T-72's selling point is that it is already in use by many countries, so it can be easily integrated into military service. More than 30 countries currently operate different variants of the T-72.

This tank weighs 41 - 44 tons depending on the version, is 6.9 m long, 3.6 m wide and 2.2 m high. The combat crew consists of 3 people - commander, driver and gunner. The main weapon of the vehicle is the 125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun. The range of the T-72 is about 450 km, up to 700 km when equipped with fuel tanks.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/an-do-len-ke-hoach-loai-bien-nang-cap-xe-tang-t-72-de-xuat-khau-185240923072653883.htm