Summary and Key Points: India boasts one of the largest tank fleets globally, with approximately 3,700 main battle tanks, including the domestically-produced Arjun and Russian-designed T-90S/MS Bhishma and T-72 Ajeya.

-This formidable fleet underscores India's status as a significant military power in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

-India's investment in a vast tank arsenal is driven by its need to safeguard sovereignty amidst regional tensions with neighbors China and Pakistan.

-While Indian tanks may be less advanced than some Western counterparts, their large numbers and strategic deployment reflect India's growing military ambitions and the complex geopolitical landscape it navigates.

India’s Powerful Tank Fleet

Did you know that the Indian military has one of the largest tank fleets in the world? With thousands of main battle tanks, the Indian military is a significant power in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

The Indian military has approximately 3,700 main battle tanks of different types in its fleet. Specifically, the Indian Army operates around 125 Arjun, 1,200 T-90S/MS Bhishma, and 2,400 T-72 Ajeya tanks. The exact number and condition of the tanks remain classified.

As evidenced, the Indian tank fleet is comprised of domestic and Russian types. Although it was not aligned with either of the two superpowers during the Cold War, India has been buying weapons from Russia for decades. The T-90S/MS Bhishma and T-72 Ajeya tanks are Indian designs of the T-90 and T-72 Russian tanks.

Although inferior in capabilities and performance to Western tanks, such as the American M1 Abrams, German Leopard 2, British Challenger 2, and French Leclerc, the T-90 and T-72 are capable armored vehicles in the right hands. Their one main disadvantage is the automatic loading system that does without the need to have a loader in the tank but skyrockets the chance of a catastrophic explosion should the armored vehicle be hit. Time and again, Russian T-90 and T-72 tanks have gone up in fireballs after they have been hit by Ukrainian anti-tank weapons.

Like Turkey, India has invested in domestic tanks. The Arjun is a third-generation tank with a 120mm main gun and composite and explosive reactive armor. The Indian defense and aerospace industries are up and coming. But their products have yet to be tested in an operational setting.

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself?

So, why does India feel the need to have one of the largest tank fleets in the world? Similarly to the case of Greece, India feels that it wouldn’t be beyond its neighbors to take advantage of Indian sovereignty if they got the chance.   

India is a rising power in the Indo-Pacific region. The most populous country in the world is finding its feet and voice after decades in the shadow of others. As is always the case, when there is a new kid in town, the old fellows don’t like it.

China, India’s neighbor, eyes New Delhi’s rise with skepticism. Beijing is becoming increasingly more assertive in the region and in the world. Although the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty and the situation in the South China Sea remain the top priorities for the Chinese Communist Party, the steady rise of India remains a concern.

To add to India’s headaches, its other main neighbor, Pakistan, is a sworn enemy, with millions of dead, creating an unbridgeable gap between the two countries. The two countries have gone to war several times in the past 80 years, and there is a constant hostility and military alertness between them. Religious differences and historical grievances make it almost impossible for the two countries to have normal relations.

New Delhi’s geographical situation and ambition necessitate a strong military. And so, the Indian Army has one of the largest tank fleets in the world.

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image Credit: Creative Commons.