T-72, T-90 tanks to get indigenous APUs under ₹586 crore defence deal
Indian Army T-90 tank (left) and T-72 tank (right). (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: India is moving to strengthen its armoured warfare capability, with the Indian Army’s T-72 and T-90 tanks set to receive indigenously developed auxiliary power units (APUs) under ₹586 crore contract signed by the defence ministry. The new power units will provide an alternative source of electricity for essential systems such as fire control, gun stabilization and firing circuits, supporting the tanks’ operational reliability.
The contract was signed with Accurate Industrial Controls Private Limited in New Delhi on Monday in the presence of the defence secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh. The APUs are designed to power key onboard systems and other tank ancillaries, providing an additional electrical source when required during operations.
The defence ministry said the induction of the in indigenous APUs will “further strengthen the operational readiness, reliability and sustainability of the Indian Army’s mechanized formations.” For tanks units, where multiple critical systems depend on reliable power supply, the move is aimed at improving the sustainability of platforms already forming a major part of the Army’s armoured fleet.
The procurement is part of India’s push to develop critical tank components within the country. The focus is also on subsystems, such as APUs, which help power important electronic and weapon systems on the tanks.
The ministry described the procurement as a “significant step towards indigenization of critical subsystems of armoured platforms.” The project has been taken forward under the Make II category, which supports industry-led research and development of defence equipment to meet requirements of the armed forces.
The ministry said the project also demonstrates the effectiveness of the Make II mechanism in translating indigenous innovation into production and induction. The contract with accurate industrial controls therefore links the development of a domestically designed component with its actual deployment on operational military platforms.
The move comes as India continues to expand domestic capabilities for maintaining and upgrading its existing military inventory. For the Army’s armoured formations, indigenous APUs can strengthen the support ecosystem around T-72 and T-90 tanks while reducing dependence on external sources for a critical sub-system.
The defence ministry said the contract is aligned with the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and marks a notable milestone towards Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in Defence. It added that the initiative will contribute to building a “resilient, self-reliant & globally competitive Indian defence industry.”
