COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Indian Army to test ultra-modern T-90s in Thar desert

Three T-90 tanks, the latest product of the Russian arms industry, will be put on trial in the deserts of Rajasthan this month, Russian designers in Moscow said.

The contract to sell the tanks to the Indian Army will be signed only after New Delhi expresses satisfaction with the results of the test.

Sources in Moscow disclosed that the defence ministry was opposed to selling the T-90s to any foreign army till 1996.

According to the ministry, the T-90 is not just the present leader in the world of armoury, but is guaranteed absolute superiority well into the next century.

The tank is said to have no peer in the world. No known anti-tank weapon can pierce its armour nor do mines pose any threat to it.

If caught in crossfire, the tank automatically releases a cloud of aerosol.

It uses both shells and rockets and is equipped with weaponry having a range of 2km longer than its rivals. It is also called 'flying tank' because of its speed.

India approached Moscow to purchase some of these most modern tanks after Islamabad acquired the T-84s from the Ukraine.

Earlier, the Kremlin had turned down Pakistan's request for the battle tanks on political grounds.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report