Armor: April 3, 2002

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Unable to get its Arjun tank to meet performance requirements, India plans to change directions. It has already ordered 310 T-90S tanks from Russia and builds T-72s under license. It plans to mount the turrets from the 124 Arjuns on order (and any more if further contracts are offered) on T-72 chassis and use the Arjun chassis to produce new Bhim self-propelled howitzers with the Denel T-6 turret. The new tank with the Arjun turret on the T-72 chassis will be called Tank EX. It will have a four-man crew (as Arjun) and use the Arjun's 120mm rifled cannon. India has 1700 T-72s in service and is refitting 200 of them with a new engine, explosive reactive armor, land navigation system, and improved chemical-nuclear protection system.--Stephen V Cole