Russia-India T-90MS Tanks: Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, has offered India a chance to jointly make the advanced T-90MS main battle tank. The plan is being seen as a new step in the long defence partnership between the two countries. The T-90MS is the export version of Russia’s newer T-90 tank line, and Rosoboronexport says it is built with a new turret weapon station, an upgraded 125mm gun, and a highly automated digital fire-control system. It can also use multispectral sights and a guided missile system that can hit armoured targets up to 5 km away.
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India’s Tank Work Already Reached a Big Mark
This offer comes at a time when India has already crossed a big production milestone of its own. In May 2026, Indian industry finished building its 1,000th T-90 tank under licence at Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi. India started by importing complete tanks from Russia, and then slowly moved to more local assembly and manufacturing. Over time, most of the T-90 tanks used by the Indian Army have been built in India with a mix of Indian and Russian parts.
Why the T-90MS Matters
The T-90MS is not just a small upgrade. Rosoboronexport says the tank has a new turret design, a digital fire-control system, better protection, and improved mobility. Its official product page says it has a 48-ton combat weight, a three-person crew, a top speed of 70 km/h, and a cruising range of 500 km. It also uses a layered protection system and a modern smoke screening setup. In simple words, it is built to move fast, survive hits better, and spot targets more quickly in day or night conditions.
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India’s Past Deal
India’s link with the T-90 family is already very deep. In 2019, India signed a $2.8 billion agreement to licence-produce 464 T-90MS tanks under the “Make in India” programme, according to defence reports.
The new Russian offer could now push that cooperation further by bringing more local production and more technology work into India. For the Indian Army, that means a chance to keep tank making active at home while also getting a newer and better version of a proven tank family.
