The defence ministry, on Tuesday, inked contracts worth nearly ₹975 crore to procure critical equipment for the Indian Army’s T-72 and T-90 tanks, which will boost the minefield breaching capabilities of these tanks.
The ministry, in a statement, said it signed contracts with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Limited for the "procurement of TRAWL Assembly for T-72/T-90 tanks, at an approximate cost of Rs 975 crore".
The T-72 is a Soviet-era main battle tank that has been serving as a reliable backbone of the Indian Army for decades, while T-90 is a more advanced, modern version with improved armour, firepower, and night-fighting capabilities, forming the Army’s frontline strike tank force.
The 'TRAWL Assembly' for T-72/T-90 tanks is a critical equipment developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that will enhance the minefield breaching capability of the Indian Army.
It would generate additional capability of creating vehicle safe lanes through minefields with anti-tank mines with proximity magnetic fuses, thus enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army, according to the defence ministry statement.
Being a 'Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)' case, the procurement marks a pivotal step towards modernising India's defence infrastructure and empowering indigenous industries, which will be a proud flag-bearer of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it said.
