Indian Army, IAF and Navy Defence Updates March 2025
Why in the news
An engine contract for T-72 tanks, a first C-17 landing at Kargil and the end of a big Indian Ocean naval exercise marked India’s latest defence push.
T-72 engine contract
- Value: $248 million with Rosoboronexport (RoE).
- Item: 1,000 HP engines replacing 780 HP units.
- Make in India: licensed production at Armoured Vehicles Nigam (HVF Avadi, Chennai).
Tank fleet
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| T-72 tanks | 2,400 |
| T-90S Bhishma inducted | 1,300 of 1,657 built under Russian licence |
| Arjun Mark-1A (ordered 2021) | 118 tanks, ₹7,523 crore |
| Project Zorawar light tanks | 354, ₹17,500 crore, for high altitude |
C-17 at Kargil
- First landing by the IAF C-17 Globemaster-III, near the LoC; flew from Hindon.
- Night landings are next; improves forward-area logistics.
Tropex 2024
- Three-month test of readiness in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Included 10 submarines, with Army, IAF and Coast Guard; set against China-Pakistan naval cooperation.
Exam angle
- Deal partner: Russia’s Rosoboronexport; production at HVF Avadi.
- Zorawar: light tanks aimed at Ladakh-type terrain.