It is a Russian designed variant of the T-72, with a less powerful engine than the T-80.
"Initially seen as an entirely new design, the production model is in fact based on the T-72BM, with some added features from the T-80 series. The T-90 features a new generation of armor on its hull and turret. Two variants, the T-90S and T-90E, have been identified as possible export models."
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/t-90.htm
They are assembled locally from Russian kits, after India originally purchased a number of pre-built models.
"India on Wednesday rolled out the first locally-assembled T-90 as part of a deal with its main arms supplier Russia to put together as many as 186 such frontline battle tanks in the next few years, officials here said.
"Russia has already supplied 124 off-the-shelf T-90s worth 650 million dollars after signing the mammoth military deal in 2001 to help India to upgrade its ageing T-72 tanks, which has scant protection against nuclear attacks.
http://pakistantimes.net/2004/01/08/top10.htm
What protection does this tank offer against nuclear attacks that the others didn't? Better air filtration to protect from fallout? That is about the only place where I think they could significantly improve protection from that type of weapon. Just my uneducated guess.
Free Atlanta
And it's not "India's first indigenously manufactured main battle tank,".
"In 1961 an agreement was signed with India and a factory was setup in Avadi, near Madaras in India to produce the Mark 1 Vickers MBT as the Vijayanta ["victory tank"]. This resulted in the first one rolling of the line in 1969. "
"Initially seen as an entirely new design, the production model is in fact based on the T-72BM, with some added features from the T-80 series. The T-90 features a new generation of armor on its hull and turret. Two variants, the T-90S and T-90E, have been identified as possible export models." ...
They are assembled locally from Russian kits, after India originally purchased a number of pre-built models. ... .
More precisely, the Indian version appears to be derived from a T-72M1's chassis, hull and running gear, with the turret and fire control of the improved T84- not at all a bad combination, though maybe a but underpowered. But if it allows the continued use of the Indian T-72 Ajeya tanks, plus commonality of spares with 4000-5000 T-72 chassis SP artillery pieces, and the older T-55s are upgraded with new T72 powerpacks, roadwheels and tracks, it'd make a lot of sense from a logistical commonality standpoint.
In any event, the new tank is known as Bhishma to its Indian army users.
Army Unveils Bhishma Tank
Bhishma, the first indigenously assembled main battle tank of the Russian T 90S, rolled out of the heavy vehicles factory at suburban Avadi here on Wednesday. Named after the legendary warrior and father-figure in Mahabharata, known for his courage, resilience and invincibility, the battle tank Bhishma will be a great asset for the Indian Army, being highly versatile, having lethal firepower, the capability to launch surprise hit at first sight, besides remarkable self-protection measures. Unveiling the Bhishma at the HVF, Union minister of state for defence O. Rajagopal said Arjun, the country's indigenous MBT, would also be launched in a few months.
Courtesy: The Asian Age, January 08, 2004
T-90 Tanks Handed Over to Army
The most advanced battle tank T-90S 'Bhishma', having tremendous night fighting capability and missle firing facility, was rolled out from the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi about 30 km from here, today. The first tank was handed out to Chief of Army Staff Gen. N C Vij by Minister of State for Defence O Rajagopal at the HVF premises in the presence of Director General of Ordnance Factories and Chairman of Ordnance Factory Board P K Misra, Additional Director of Ordnance Factories (Armoured Vehicles) A K Lamba and HVF General Manager B S Bhatia. The biggest advantage of T-90, when compared to T-72 tank was that it had tremendous night fighting capability and could fire missile to a range of 4000 m. The T-90 had undergone all trials and had proved its capability. The highly versatile and state-of-the-art battle tanks, having the capability to attack enemy targets precisely during night time, was assembled here with parts imported from Russia and was aimed at meeting the needs of the Indian Army in the coming decades.
Courtesy: The Hindu, January 07, 2004
Bhishma, Arjun, and Krishna:
