India has decided to buy 100 T-90 tanks from Russia in 2001-2003, and then build another 200 T-90s under license. The contract threatens to doom the Arjun program, which after 25 years of development is due to deliver the first 20 tanks next year. Those tanks will not come close to meeting the original goals for reliability, lethality, or survivability. The Defense Ministry continues to insist that Arjun will eventually be the Army's primary tank.--Stephen V Cole