India Produces 1,000th T-90 Tank

Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited has handed over the 1,000th T-90IM tank to the Indian Armed Forces. The tank was manufactured at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi.

Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited shared this news on its X account.

As Defence Blog explains, the “IM” (indigenously manufactured) designation distinguishes locally produced tanks from original Russian-made vehicles supplied to India in the early 2000s.

The transition from imported kits to domestic production took more than 20 years and required India to gradually develop technologies that Russia was not always willing or able to transfer quickly or in full.

T-90 in India

India signed its first contract for the supply of T-90S tanks in 2001, providing for licensed production of 1,000 units.
Under the plan, the first 124 tanks were assembled in Russia, while the remainder were delivered as semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits for final assembly at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, with a gradual increase in localization.

A key milestone came in 2009, when the plant delivered the first T-90S tank assembled with components manufactured in India rather than imported kits.

Localization now covers most systems. The current T-90IM tanks consist of roughly 80% Indian-made components, including an engine fully developed and produced in the country.

Local manufacturers have also mastered production of spare parts kits, tools and equipment required for maintenance and repair without specialized factory infrastructure, as well as electrical and cooling systems that were previously dependent on Russian suppliers.

In addition, newer T-90 Mark III variants are equipped with a more powerful 1,350 hp engine, as well as thermal imaging sights and an Indian-made fire control system.

The delivery of the 1,000th tank also carries a commercial dimension beyond the Indian Army’s immediate requirements. India’s defense export ambitions have grown in recent years, and the production of 1,000 localized tanks strengthens the credibility of those ambitions.

In late 2025, India began delivering WhAP 8×8 infantry fighting vehicles to Morocco, which had ordered 150 units in 2024. This became the largest export contract for Indian armored vehicles at the time.