Indigenous battle tank heads for comparative trials with Russian T-90

September 4th, 2009 VLADIVOSTOK - A crew of Indian submariners will take part in sea trials in mid-September of the Russian nuclear submarine which is to be leased to the Indian Navy by the end of 2009, a source said Friday. Russia's Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, damaged in a fatal accident during tests last November, resumed sea trials July 10 in the Sea of Japan after extensive repairs that cost an estimated 1.9 billion roubles ($60 million).

August 24th, 2009 Indo-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE CHENNAI - The first batch of 10 locally built Russian T-90 tanks named Bhishma rolled out of the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi here Monday. Till date the Russian tanks were imported in semi- and fully knocked down condition and assembled here.

August 24th, 2009 Indo-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE AVADI - The first batch T-90 tanks manufactured in India under license from Russia were Monday handed over to the Indian Army. After a delay of one year, the first batch rolled out of the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) here.

July 27th, 2009 KHABAROVSK - The first stage of sea trials of Russia's Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, which was damaged in a fatal accident during previous tests, has been successfully completed, the Amur shipyard said Monday. The vessel, which will be leased to the Indian Navy by the end of 2009, resumed sea trials July 10 in the Sea of Japan following extensive repairs.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The production of the indigenously built main battle tank (MBT) Arjun will continue, with an additional 77 tanks to be supplied to the Indian Army by March 2010, an official said Monday amid concerns about the project. There was apprehension among Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists that the production would have to halt as the army had put its foot down and declined to buy more than 124 tanks as contracted earlier.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Allaying fears of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists that the production of the Arjun main battle tank will be stopped, the government has decided to continue with its manufacture, and added that a second regiment of the indigenously built combat vehicle will be raised soon. The Army had made it clear that it would buy no more than the 124 Arjun tanks that it has contracted for because it was unhappy with the tank on various counts.

July 10th, 2009 MOSCOW - A Russian nuclear submarine that is to be leased to India and which was damaged in an accident that killed 20 people resumed sea trials Friday after extensive repairs, a defence official said. "The sea trials of the Nerpa nuclear submarine will continue for two weeks.

June 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor Friday said the comparative trials of the indigenously built Arjun main battle tank (MBT) with the Russian T-90 equivalent have been delayed as the army will first conduct field training with the tanks. "The Arjun tank has just been delivered to us.

June 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - After a hiatus of one year, 50 T-90 tanks will roll out of an Indian factory under licensed production following the resolution of the stalemate with Russia over transfer of technology. After the anguish expressed by the Indian establishment over the delay in the execution of various defence deals, including the T-90 tanks, Russia has reassured India that the delivery will follow the time schedule.

May 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With the delivery of 16 indigenously built Arjun main battle tank (MBT) to the Indian Army today, the combat vehicle is now ready for comparative trials with Russian T-90 tanks. The Defence Research and Development Organisation handed sixteen tanks (cumulative 45 Arjun tanks) to Lt.

February 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As Russia continues escalating the price for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov much to the chagrin of the defence establishment here, India is all set for the keel laying of its first indigenous carrier for which Rs.3,260 crore (Rs.32.60 billion/$654 million) has initially been allocated. The keel will be laid at the Cochin Shipyard Feb 28.

February 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In a reversal of the Indian Army's stand on the indigenous main battle tank (MBT) Arjun, which has been 37 years in the making, army chief General Deepak Kapoor has written to the defence ministry appreciating the tank's performance. The army chief's letter has come months before the MBT Arjun, which India has been trying to manufacture indigenously for more than three decades, is headed for head-to-head 'comparative trials' with the Russian T-90 tanks that the army currently operates.

February 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Progressing towards self-reliance in the defence industry, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier will be in the waters by 2011, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said Wednesday. The under-construction aircraft carrier will be ready in two years.

January 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Heating up the race for the contract to supply 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force, Gripen, a Swedish firm, has proposed to India transfer of technology to become 'an independent manufacturer' of its own fighter jets. Looking forward to the trials for the medium multi-role combat aircraft, the Swedish manufacturer of Gripen, SAAB International has favoured 'extensive transfer of technology' well in excess of 60 percent requirement to boost India's indigenous capabilities in this regard.

January 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Army will conduct head-to-head 'comparative trials' of the indigenous Arjun main battle tank (MBT), under development for over three decades, and the Russian-built T-90 tanks in June. This is seen as a last desperate bid to save the Arjun project that has already cost the exchequer Rs.3.5 billion ($71.7 million).