While the Army has placed an order with DRDO to acquire124 indigenously-built Arjun Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), “it intends toretrofit/upgrade these tanks (T-72) to enhance their missionreliability and life expectancy,” Antony told the Parliament.
The Army has so far received 85 Arjun MBT .
“Keepingin view the production capacity for MBT Arjun Tanks and strategicconsiderations, the Government is also exercising the option formodernising T-72 tanks instead of total replacement of these tanks oncompletion of their life span,” Antony said.
The Soviet-era T-72Main Battle Tanks were acquired from Russia over 30 years ago. About1600 such tanks are presently being operated by the Indian Arm
