India's Ministry of Defense has approved a major arms purchase which includes 464 T-90 tanks from Russia, the Lenta news website reported Tuesday. Earlier media reports said that the Ministry was considering the purchase of the T-90MS model.
In March 2016, Russia's Rosoboronexport announced that it was negotiating a deal with the Indian side on the topic of localization and production of the T-90MS in India.
The T-90MS, sometimes known as the T-90SM (M for "modernized"), was first produced for export in the mid-2000s. It is armed with a 125mm 2А46М-5 cannon capable of firing both conventional tank shells and guided missiles, as well as a remote-controlled heavy machine gun. It utilizes a new fire control system known as "kalina," and is fitted with "relikt" reactive armor to defend against anti-tank missiles and rockets.
India has already been producing models of Russian tanks under license, in particular, the T-72M1 and the T-90S.
