T-90S Bhishma
Bhishma
The armoured fist of India's strike corps.
About the Bhishma
The T-90 is a third-generation Russian main battle tank developed from, and designed to replace the T-72. It uses a 125 mm 2A46 smoothbore main gun, the 1A45T fire-control system, an upgraded engine, and gunner's thermal sight. Standard protective measures include a blend of steel and composite armour, smoke grenade dischargers, Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour (ERA) and the Shtora infrared anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) jamming system.
Service history
India ordered 310 T-90S in 2001 after Pakistan acquired the T-80UD, and moved quickly to licence production at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi. With well over a thousand in service it is now the most numerous modern tank in the inventory and equips the armoured formations facing the western border. An overhaul and upgrade line opened in 2024.
Combat edge
Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour
Shtora-1 infrared countermeasure suite
Fires the 9M119 Refleks gun-launched ATGM
Licence-built at Avadi with rising indigenous content