According to Frontier India’s Girish Linganna, some of India’s T-90S Bhishma tanks were being modernised in Russia, but it may have been decided to provide them to the Russian army for its conflict in Ukraine.
According to Girish Linganna, a video of T-90 tanks was posted on a Telegram channel in the middle of September, with the caption indicating that the tanks were intended for the Russian Armed Forces. The T-90 tanks in the film were initially thought to be unmodernized T-90A tanks that had been taken out of storage, but it was later discovered that they were actually the export-version T-90S tanks. The Indian Army’s T-90S Bhishma configuration was specifically present on the tanks.
A recent image proved that these tanks have entered the Ukrainian battle zone. After modernisation, it was reportedly necessary to take them back to India, but it was ultimately decided to send them to Ukraine, writes Girish Linganna.
A modified version of the T-90 called the T-90S was created to satisfy the operational needs of Asian nations. With its 1,000 horsepower V-92S2 engine, the T-90S has more mobility, protection, and firepower (additional blocks of integrated dynamic protection). Uralvagonzavod, a Nizhny Tagil-based company, produces it. India, also known as “Bhishma,” uses the T-90S; in fact, the Indian Army purchased 310 T-90S tanks from the company in February 2001.
In place of export restrictions, the Russian government prioritises arming its military. During the initial stages of the battle, the Russian army received armoured vehicles and anti-tank weaponry intended for Arab countries.
According to Girish Linganna, the tanks in the video were T-90S, making them vehicles in export configuration because there were no Shtora-1 KOEP components on the turret and a distinctive wide turret block of dynamic protection mounted in a “ledge.” Additionally, as is customary with Indian T-90S, the mortars of the 902 Tucha system are positioned at a 75 degree angle.
Since 2001, India and Russia have entered into agreements for the supply of 1,450 T-90S Bhishma tanks made by Uralvagonzavod (Nizhny Tagil), of which 124 were delivered directly from Russia and the others were produced in India under licence.
According to Girish Linganna, the tanks in the video were T-90S, making them vehicles in export configuration because there were no Shtora-1 KOEP components on the turret and a distinctive wide turret block of dynamic protection mounted in a “ledge.” Additionally, as is customary with Indian T-90S, the mortars of the 902 Tucha system are positioned at a 75 degree angle.
Since 2001, India and Russia have entered into agreements for the supply of 1,450 T-90S Bhishma tanks made by Uralvagonzavod (Nizhny Tagil), of which 124 were delivered directly from Russia and the others were produced in India under licence.
When asked if there were any maintenance issues with Russian weapons in India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the foreign minister of India, avoided mentioning the status of the Indian T-90s in that country, according to Girish Linganna. During a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 28, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar assured reporters that there have been no problems in recent months with the maintenance and supply of spare parts for military equipment that had previously been purchased from Russia.
