India has reached an important milestone in its defence industry with the delivery of the 1,000th T-90IM tank to the Indian Army.
The armoured vehicle was produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, consolidating more than two decades of efforts to expand local production of military vehicles originally developed in Russia.
The programme began in 2001, when the Indian government signed an agreement to manufacture 1,000 T-90S tanks under licence. In the early years, some of the vehicles were assembled in Russia, while others arrived in India as semi-knocked-down kits.
As the domestic industry advanced, India gradually began replacing imported parts with locally produced components.
Today, T-90IM tanks contain around 80% India-made parts, including engines, electrical systems and cooling equipment.
The most modern versions have also received important upgrades, such as 1,350-horsepower engines, thermal sights and fire-control systems developed by India’s own defence industry.
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The progress reinforces not only India’s military capability, but also its ambitions in the international defence market. The country recently began deliveries of WhAP 8×8 armoured vehicles to Morocco, in a deal considered the largest armoured vehicle export contract in the history of Indian industry.
Milestone covered: The 1000th T-90(IM) tank was delivered today by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) to the Indian Army, indigenously produced at HVF/AVNL, Avadi. From licensed production to deep indigenisation of engines and systems, this is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action,… pic.twitter.com/Coy4qyzuIq
— ARMOURED VEHICLES NIGAM LIMITED (@AVANI_PR) May 22, 2026
Source: Militarnyi | Photos: Ministry of Defence, Government of India, @SpokespersonMoD; News IADN, X @NewsIADN | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
