India has signed a $248 million agreement with Russia to purchase more powerful engines for its Soviet-era battle tanks. The deal was made with Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of Defense on Friday (March 7).
The T-72 tanks, first introduced in India in the 1970s, remain a primary component of the Indian Army’s arsenal. Currently, about 2,500 T-72 tanks with 780-horsepower engines are active in the Indian military. The new engines, offering 1,000 horsepower, will replace the existing ones, enhancing the tanks’ mobility and combat capabilities.
The deal includes a technology transfer from Rosoboronexport to India’s state-owned Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), allowing licensed manufacturing of the engines in India.
India is the world’s largest arms importer, with Russia being its primary defense supplier for decades. However, due to supply challenges faced by Russia amid the Ukraine war, India has increasingly turned to Western nations for defense equipment.