New Delhi: India’s FRCV and FMBT programmes are attracting global attention as the country moves to modernise its armoured fleet under the Make in India initiative. Russia has now proposed joint production of the T-90MS main battle tank along with subsystem technology transfer, aiming to remain an important defence partner for India while supporting future indigenous tank development.
India Moves Ahead with FRCV and FMBT Projects
India is replacing its ageing T-72 tanks through the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme.
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In September 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of 1,770 FRCVs, making it one of the country’s biggest armoured vehicle modernisation projects. The FRCV programme is expected to deliver tanks with:
- Superior mobility
- Better battlefield awareness
- Advanced protection systems
- High firepower
- Modern digital combat capabilities
The project is being developed under the government’s Make-I category, which promotes indigenous defence manufacturing with government funding.
Details of India Russia T-90MS Joint Production
Russia has responded by offering India a partnership centred on the T-90MS, the latest export version of the T-90 tank. According to reports, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has proposed:
- Joint production of T-90MS tanks in India
- Transfer of manufacturing technologies
- Local production of important subsystems
- Gradual localisation of components to reduce imports
The proposal is designed to match India’s “Make in India” policy while strengthening long-term industrial cooperation.
India Russia T-90MS Joint Production: Why Russia Believes It Has an Advantage
India already operates a large fleet of T-72 Ajeya, T-90 Bhishma, and other Russian-origin armoured vehicles. Because of this long partnership, India already has:
- Maintenance infrastructure
- Repair facilities
- Trained manpower
- Spare parts supply chains
- Operational experience
Russia believes these existing systems can reduce costs and speed up production compared to developing a completely new platform from scratch.
What Makes the T-90MS Different
The T-90MS is an upgraded version of the T-90 family. It reportedly includes:
- Around 1,130-horsepower engine
- Improved armour protection
- Modern fire-control system
- Better thermal imaging
- Digital battlefield management system
- Higher survivability in combat
Russia argues that these improvements make the tank suitable for current and future battlefield requirements.
Technology Transfer Is a Key Part of the India Russia T-90MS Joint Production Proposal
Instead of only exporting finished tanks, Russia says production can begin with imported components before gradually shifting manufacturing to Indian companies. The proposal also includes technology transfer for important subsystems, allowing Indian industry to manufacture more parts domestically over time. This approach supports India’s objective of increasing indigenous defence production.
How Does This Fit with India’s FRCV Programme
The FRCV project is expected to replace the ageing T-72 fleet with approximately 1,770 new combat vehicles. The Indian Army has outlined requirements including:
- Weight around 55 tonnes
- High mobility
- Advanced active protection systems
- Artificial intelligence support
- Drone integration
- Network-centric warfare capability
These requirements have been highlighted by official defence planning documents.
What About the Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT)
India is also pursuing the Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT), a long-term indigenous project expected to be led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The FMBT aims to feature:
- Advanced active protection systems
- Artificial intelligence-assisted operations
- Improved crew survivability
- Next-generation battlefield technologies
Unlike the FRCV, the FMBT is intended to be a largely indigenous platform for the future.
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