Pakistan procuring 600 tanks to strengthen capability along border with India: intelligent Sources
Team Udayavani, Dec 30, 2018, 10:18 AM IST
New Delhi: Pakistan has drawn up an ambitious plan to procure close to 600 battle tanks including T-90 tanks from Russia, primarily to bolster its military might along the border with India, intelligence sources said Sunday.
Most of the tanks Pakistan was procuring will be able to hit targets at a range of 3 to 4 km, the sources told PTI.
Apart from battle tanks, Pakistan Army is also procuring 245 150mm SP Mike-10 guns from Italy out of which it has already received 120 guns, they said.
The sources said Pakistan was eyeing to buy from Russia a batch of T-90 battle tanks- the mainstays of the armoured regiments of the Indian Army – and that the move reflects Islamabad’s intent to forge a deeper defence engagement with Moscow.
Russia has been India’s largest and most trusted defence supplier post Independence.
The sources said as part of the mega plan to significantly revamp its armoured fleet by 2025, Pakistan has decided to procure at least 360 battle tanks globally besides producing 220 tanksindigenouslywith help from its close ally China.
Pakistan Army’s move to enhance its armoured corps comes at a time when the Line of Actual control in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed growing hostilities in the last one year. The Indian Army has been strongly retaliating to every unprovoked firing by Pakistani side.
But, when the Indian Army is focused on counter-terror operations, the Pakistan Army was fast reducing its gap with Indian forces in fighting a conventional war, sources said.
The Indian Army had drawn up a mega plan to modernise its infantry and armoured corps.
However, almost all the procurement projects including the Rs 60,000 crore Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme are stuck due to a variety of reasons.
At present, India’s armoured regiments, comprising mainly T-90, T-72 and Arjuna tanks, have much more superiority over Pakistan, but sources said Islamabad was seriously planning to bridge the gap at the earliest.
As against around 67 armored regiments of Indian Army, the number of similar regiments in Pakistan Army is around 51, the sources said.
They said, at present, over 70 per cent of the tanks in Pakistan’s armoury have the capability to operate during night which, they said, was a matter of concern.
Besides eyeing to procure T-90 tanks, Pakistan Army is also in the process of inducting Chinese VT-4 tanks as well as Oplod-P tanks from Ukraine, the sources said.
Trials for both Oplod and VT-4 tanks have already been conducted by the Pakistan Army.
At present, Pakistan is learnt to have around 17 units pf Chinese origin T-59 and T69 tanks, which comprise 30 per cent of its total tank strength, the sources said.
It also has 12 regiments of Al-Zarar tanks, which makes 20 per cent of the tank fleet while Ukrain origin T-80-UD and T-85 UD as well as upgraded version of T-59 tanks comprise the rest of the 50 per cent tank fleet, they said.
“The Pakistan Army is carrying out modernisation of its armored regiments in a calibrated and time-bound manner which is not the case in India,” said an expert, who wished not to be named.
He said it was a matter of concern the way Pakistan was modernising its tank fleet. The Indian Army has also raised an independent tank brigade which is stationed in Ladakh but it is not enough, the expert added.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
India & Kuwait elevate ties to strategic level; ink defence pact after PM Modi meets top Kuwaiti leaders
In Kuwait, PM Modi meets yoga practitioner, other influencers from Gulf country
PM Modi receives Kuwait’s highest honour
PM Modi in Kuwait meets translator, publisher of Mahabharata, Ramayana in Arabic
Indian manpower, skills will help build ‘New Kuwait’: PM Modi
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Nelamangala accident: Tried avoiding hitting car in front, lost control, claims truck driver
Derogatory word against minister: AICC leader Surjewala calls for strict action against BJP MLC
Maha Kumbh 2025: 50,000 police personnel to ensure safety of pilgrims
Epigamia founder Rohan Mirchandani dies of cardiac arrest at age 42
Turned dreams of people into source of income: Priyanka slams govt over GST on exam forms
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.