Latest news with #T-72
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Rajnath Singh approves Miniratna status to three Defence Public Sector Undertakings
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the grant of 'Miniratna' status Category-I for Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) & India Optel Limited (IOL), the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. Congratulating these Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) for their transformation from a government organization to a profit making corporate entity in a short span of three years, Defence Minister expressed his satisfaction over the initiatives taken by the management of MIL, AVNL and IOL to increase the turnover of the company, maximize indigenisation and meet other performance parameters for grant of Miniratna (Category-I) status. Munitions India Limited has achieved significant milestones after inception, including stellar growth in sales from Rs 2571.6 Cr in 2021-22 (H2) to Rs 8282 Cr (provisional) in FY 2024-25. On the Export front, MIL has achieved a growth from Rs 22.55 Cr in FY 2021-22 (H2) to Rs 3081 Cr in FY 2024-25 (Provisional). The major products of MIL include small, medium and high calibre ammunition, mortars, rockets, hand grenades etc. with in-house manufacturing of initiatory compositions, propellants and high explosives. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited has witnessed a significant growth in sales from Rs 2569.26 Cr in 2021-22 (H2) to Rs 4986 Cr (provisional) in FY 2024-25. AVNL has also achieved 100 percent indigenization of Engines for all the 3 platforms viz. T-72, T-90 and BMP-II. The major products of AVNL include Armoured/ Combat Vehicles (T-90, MBT Arjun, Infantry Combat Vehicles 'BMP-II Sarath' etc.), support vehicles (MPV, AERV etc.) and Defence mobility solutions (Stallion, LPTA etc.) India Optel Limited, over the past three years, has pushed its sales from Rs 562.12 Cr in 2021-22 (H2) to Rs 1541.38 Cr (provisional) in FY 2024-25. The main products of IOL include Opto-Electronic systems and vision equipment which are used in land system platforms and weapons like battle tanks T-90, T-72, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP-II, Artillery Guns, Naval Guns etc. The bestowal of Miniratna status to MIL, AVNL and IOL will further empower these companies to achieve accelerated growth trajectory and new heights in defence production and exports. To enhance functional autonomy, efficiency and unleash new growth potential and innovation, erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was converted into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings, including these three DPSUs w.e.f. October 1, 2021. While MIL and AVNL are Schedule 'A' new Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU), IOL is a Schedule 'B' DPSU under the administrative control of Department of Defence Production (DDP). (ANI)
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Kiwi joins Ukrainian Army to fight Russian invasion
He is in the 23rd Separate Mechanised Brigade - a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in February 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 'I did a fair bit of personal training before coming here, so I could pass the physical fitness requirements.' Cass arrived in Ukraine in January. In his first hours in Ukraine, just after stepping off the train, he immediately heard an air-raid warning. He said it's hard to articulate what being in combat is like to those who haven't experienced it. 'You definitely have to shut out the thought of dying and just focus on the mission. It's mentally and physically taxing, though often you don't really notice it building up. 'It's quite draining, but I have a whole lot of people and things to fight for, so I won't give up. You never know what a mission will be like before you go. 'I hate going to and from the combat positions more than I dislike actually being there. FPVs buzzing around and artillery hitting close by definitely keep the adrenaline pumping.' While he didn't have previous military training, he does have a passion for video games. 'I play Shadow of Chernobyl and War Thunder with my squadmates. Funny story about War Thunder - the modelling of tank armour in that game is quite realistic, so one time during an anti-armour mission, I remembered the weak part of a T-72 we killed based on my knowledge from that game.' Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II. New Zealand authorities have condemned the attack by Russia since the invasion began. He admits it's upsetting to travel through Ukrainian towns, not unlike some New Zealand towns, and see them destroyed by the war, but what gets him through is remembering who he's fighting for. 'If I dwell on it too much, yeah, it's pretty upsetting to think about. 'I'm always amazed by the resilience of people trying to live their lives here. Just like back home, people are just trying to get by; they go to work, go home to their families, even as war rages around them, they live on and endure.' Cass said friends and caregiver [whom he considers his mum] have supported his decision, but are still worried for his safety. 'My friends have been super supportive and lovely, and sent me care packages from back home. I've always liked to say that my friends are my family. 'I think of them when I fight. I think of my friends at home in NZ and around the world too. I would rather fight the Russian invaders here than risk the chance they win and move to invade somewhere even closer to home.' Despite being thrown into combat, he said he is lucky not to have sustained many injuries. '[I] buggered my hand up pretty badly after having an ammunition crate dropped on it but nothing too crazy, haven't lost any limbs or anything. He is the only Kiwi in his tight-knit team, whom he describes as his brothers. One of the biggest challenges is the language barrier, but his brothers-in-arms are helping him learn alongside his girlfriend in Kyiv. 'My lovely girlfriend and Duolingo are also great helpers. 'It's funny, I came here for war and found love instead. Well, I've found both really.' After the war, he said he wants to stay in Ukraine. 'They'll never defeat Ukraine's greatest weapon: our spirit.'
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
LoC fortified: T-72s to anchor India's future border defence
India moved its T-72 main battle tanks right up to the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir's Akhnoor sector as part of Operation Sindoor . This was a direct response to unprovoked Pakistani aggression and attempts to support terrorist infiltration into Indian territory. The tanks—fitted with 125mm guns and missiles capable of hitting targets 4,000 metres away—formed the core of a joint deployment of air defence, artillery, and infantry, as reported by TOI. 'T-72s are integral. Fitted with 125mm guns and missile capability up to 4,000m, they were moved in as part of joint force deployment,' a senior Army officer told TOI on Tuesday. Ground armour and infiltration control The T-72s, alongside BMP-2 armoured vehicles, remain stationed along key points of the LoC. Their mission: seal off infiltration routes and maintain constant operational readiness. These armoured units were critical in neutralising Pakistani posts that served as platforms for cross-border terror movements. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Would you like to know more? Undo An Army officer involved in the operation told NDTV , 'We also hit enemy posts which were facilitating infiltration. We know which posts are used as bases for infiltration by the enemy. An informed call was taken – and the targets were hit.' Precision fire and unmanned threats Indian air defence units intercepted multiple drone swarm threats during the operation. 'As the enemy unleashed a new threat of drone swarms, it was the Indian Army's air defence that truly emerged as the shining shield — demonstrating exceptional skill, resilience, and cutting-edge coordination to intercept every aerial menace,' said Brigadier Mudit Mahajan, Commander of the Poonch Brigade, in a TOI report. Live Events Artillery coordination and air support enabled strikes on nine high-value terror targets across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), six of which were successfully neutralised. These were situated opposite the Poonch, Rajouri, and Akhnoor sectors. Heavy casualties and strategic pause In retaliatory action across north Kashmir, including Kupwara and Tangdhar, Indian forces destroyed nine more terror hideouts. These were in difficult terrain, yet Indian troops sustained zero casualties. In contrast, the Pakistani military reportedly suffered 65 fatalities. 'So far, we have inputs of imposing heavy numbers in fatal and non-fatal casualties upon the enemy,' Brigadier Mahajan stated. Indian forces have been on constant alert. 'Operation Sindoor is not over but only remains suspended for the time being,' he added. 'The Indian Army remains alert and ready, and if challenged again, we will respond yet again not with words but fire and resolve of the nation.' Pakistan's artillery failings exposed In the Mendhar sector, Indian teams discovered a 155mm Pakistani shell that failed to detonate. Shockingly, it was fitted with a plug instead of a fuse. 'This is the most basic error,' said Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal, defence spokesperson in Jammu. 'Fitting a fuse is basic training for gunners worldwide. This highlights shallow training standards and Pakistan's hollow claims on global platforms.' Bomb disposal teams are still combing areas in Poonch, Krishna Ghati, and Mendhar, following strict safety protocols to remove unexploded shells without risking civilian lives. Air strikes and shifting gears As the operation intensified, the Indian Air Force launched strikes on key Pakistani airbases, crippling infrastructure at Chaklala, Rafiqui, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad. 'Aggression was met with calibrated and coordinated force,' said Air Marshal A.K. Bharti. Brigadier Mahajan revealed that Indian forces had originally planned a limited strike. 'The Army struck with unmatched precision and purpose – six of nine critical terrorist targets struck were opposite Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor and these were neutralised effectively that night.' Only after Pakistan escalated by targeting civilian areas did Indian forces shift to hitting military installations. Russian T-72s: The power behind the tank India's T-72s are Soviet-designed tanks first inducted into service in the early 1980s. With a combat range of 500km, a top speed of 60 kmph, and explosive reactive armour, they are built for high-intensity engagements. The Indian Army operates about 2,500 of these, built domestically at Avadi's Heavy Vehicles Factory. A new $248 million deal with Russia's Rosoboronexport will replace existing engines with 1,000 HP upgrades, enhancing battlefield mobility. The agreement also includes technology transfer to India's Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, part of the 'Make in India' initiative. India has already announced a plan to build nearly 600 indigenous tanks to replace ageing T-72 units. This move is in response to Russia's limited supply capacity due to its war in Ukraine. As India diversifies its defence partnerships, its focus remains on modernisation without compromising strategic autonomy. Although military operations have been paused since 10 May, Indian troops maintain 24x7 surveillance. 'We did not wait to react; we prepared to respond,' said Brigadier Mahajan. He stressed that the Poonch Brigade 'was not a part but the heart of Operation Sindoor.' While the ceasefire holds for now, India's position is clear. As the Defence Ministry warned, any future terror attack will be considered 'an act of war'.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As India struck terror targets inside Pakistan and PoK, T-72 tanks, BMP-2 armoured vehicles moved up to LoC
After 'effectively neutralising' six of the nine terror locations falling opposite Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor in Jammu on the night of May 6-7, Indian troops prepared to respond to Pakistani aggression, said the Commander of an Army Brigade at Poonch on Tuesday. Referring to the Poonch Brigade's engagement in the 'intense and continous operations during Operation Sindoor to blunt and respond to the unprovoked aggression by Pakistan across the Line of Control', Commander Poonch Brigade, Brig Mudit Mahajan, said, 'To that extent, Poonch Brigade was not a part but the heart of Operation Sindoor. We did not wait to react; we prepared to respond.' Official sources said that while targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, the Indian Army also moved its T-72 tanks and BMP-2 armoured personnel carriers up to the Line of Control as a preemptive move. Sources said the tanks targeted Pakistani posts that were facilitating the infiltration of terrorists into J&K. The Pahalgam terror attack was met with a 'calibrated response' from the Indian Army, initially focusing solely on terrorist infrastructure, Brig Mahajan said, adding, 'The Army struck with unmatched precision and purpose – six of nine critical terrorist targets struck were opposite Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor and these were neutralised effectively that night.' 'Only when the Pakistan Army escalated by indiscriminately targeting civilian areas did the Indian Army decisively shift to hitting their military assets,' he said. 'As the enemy unleashed a new threat of drone swarms, it was the Indian Army's air defence that truly emerged as the shining shield — demonstrating exceptional skill, resilience, and cutting-edge coordination to intercept every aerial menace,' he said. 'The Pakistani Army losses were not just in numbers but in morale and initiative,' he said. 'So far, we have inputs of imposing heavy numbers in fatal and non-fatal casualties upon the enemy.' Pointing out that Operation Sindoor is not over but only remains suspended for the time being, he said that the Indian Army 'remains alert and ready, and if challenged again, we will respond yet again not with words but fire and resolve of the nation.'
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor: T-72s add heft to firepower along LoC
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: India deployed T-72 tanks along LoC in Akhnoor sector of J&K during Operation Sindoor , with armoured firepower, air defence precision, and artillery coordination delivering a strong response to Pakistan's aggression. Operation also exposed serious lapses in Pakistan's artillery training, with an unexploded shell found fitted with a plug instead of a fuse. 'T-72s are integral. Fitted with 125mm guns and missile capability up to 4,000m, they were moved in as part of joint force deployment,' a senior officer said Tuesday. T-72s remain stationed along LoC alongside BMP-2 armoured vehicles to seal infiltration routes, underlining sustained readiness. Army officers said the operation remains on hold, not 'terminated or concluded', with military action against Pakistan paused since May 10. Soldiers maintain 24x7 vigilance along LoC. 'If challenged again, we will respond not with words, but with fire and the nation's resolve,' Poonch Brigade Commander Brig Mudit Mahajan said. Air defence units neutralised multiple drone swarm threats, emerging as 'the shining shield' of the operation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Approvato! Lo Stato copre i tuoi pannelli solari se vivi in questi CAP Undo 'Exceptional skill, resilience, and coordination ensured every aerial threat was intercepted,' said Brig Mahajan. Indian precision firepower hit nine critical targets across LoC in PoK, neutralising six key terrorist camps opposite Poonch, Rajouri, and Akhnoor. 'We struck with unmatched precision and purpose,' Brig Mahajan said. In north Pir Panjal, Army reported zero casualties on Indian side while confirming 65 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory strikes. DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai had earlier estimated 35–40 Pakistani personnel killed between May 7 and 10 in LoC exchanges. In north Kashmir's Kupwara and Tangdhar sectors, Indian forces neutralised nine major terrorist hideouts, some deemed inaccessible. Top officials reported zero casualties on the Indian side. 'We struck with unmatched precision,' Brig Mahajan said, stressing that Poonch Brigade was 'not a part but the heart of Operation Sindoor'. Air Marshal AK Bharti said IAF airstrikes across western sector crippled Pakistani airbases and military infrastructure. Targets included Chaklala, Rafiqui, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad. 'Aggression was met with calibrated and coordinated force,' he said. During the offensive, Pakistani artillery's poor training came into sharp focus. An unexploded 155mm shell discovered in Mendhar sector of Jammu region was found fitted with a plug instead of a fuse. 'This is the most basic error,' said Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, defence spokesperson in Jammu. 'Fitting a fuse is basic training for gunners worldwide. This highlights shallow training standards and Pakistan's hollow claims on global platforms,' he said. Army's bomb disposal teams, in coordination with J&K police, are conducting operations across Poonch, Krishna Ghati, and Mendhar to clear unexploded shells. 'Operations follow strict safety protocols with minimal risk to civilian life and property,' Col Bartwal said.
