MOSCOW, March 8. /TASS/. Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has confirmed the signing of a $248 million contract with India for engine supplies as part of efforts to upgrade India’s T-72 tanks.
"On March 7, 2025, Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Indian Defense Ministry for the supply of engines for the replacement of engines on the T-72 tanks that are in service with the Indian ground forces," the agency said in a statement.
According to the Indian Defense Ministry, the T-72 tank is the mainstay of the tank fleet of the country’s army, which is at present fitted with the 780 HP engine.
"The $248 million contract includes engine supplies and the establishment of local production of 1000 HP engines for T-72 tanks, which will allow the Indian army to increase the power capacity of the Russian armored vehicles by almost 30%, improving their manoeuvrability and off-road performance. The contract also provides for the transfer of production technologies for these engines and is fully in line with the Make in India program," Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev pointed out.
The T-72 tank was put into service with the Soviet Army in the summer of 1973. The vehicle had been designed by the tank design bureau of the Uralvagonzavod plant (now the Ural Design Office of Transport Engineering, part of the Rostec corporation’s Uralvagonzavod concern). Since then, the tank has been improved and upgraded several times. The tank is in service with the armies of about 50 countries.