According to recent discussions, the Indian Army’s 1,200 T-90S Bhishma tanks may be equipped with the Israeli Trophy Active Protection System (APS). The goal of this prospective update is to improve these tanks’ defensive capabilities in response to contemporary challenges, especially in light of lessons learned from the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, which has exposed the weaknesses of armored vehicles.
With over 1,200 T-90S and 2,500 T-72 tanks, the Indian Army is modernizing its armored capabilities. To improve its defense capabilities and lessen dependency on imported equipment, these initiatives include buying new tanks, modernizing current models, and looking at export prospects.
India plans to modernize and export T-72 tanks as part of a broader strategy to encourage defense exports and reduce dependency on foreign military hardware. These updated T-72 tanks are a popular choice for nations wishing to strengthen their defenses without investing heavily in new platforms since they combine dependability, affordability, and demonstrated combat capability. By concentrating on this market segment, India aims to become a significant role in the global economy, particularly given the growing
The Trophy system is a top contender for the sophisticated APS solutions the Indian Army is actively looking for for its fleet of T-90S Bhishma aircraft. Protection against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and other threats could be greatly enhanced by the integration. Trophy technology, which has been successful in protecting armored vehicles from dangers such as anti-tank missiles, might be put on both the Arjun tanks and the popular T-90S tanks, which India acquired from Russia in the early 2000s.
Countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are expected to be the main export markets for these tanks. In order to enhance their combat capabilities, several nations, such as Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and Algeria, may choose to purchase updated T-72 tanks.
The Trophy APS uses both soft-kill and hard-kill techniques to identify and eliminate approaching threats. Hard-kill tactics use kinetic projectiles that physically intercept and destroy incoming explosives, whereas soft-kill techniques could include smoke grenades and jammers.
According to the Indian Army’s Request for Information (RFI), any chosen APS must be able to operate in a variety of terrains, including high-altitude regions, and must not impair the T-90S tanks’ mobility.
A modified Russian T-90 tank designed for Indian operational requirements is the T-90S Bhishma. It is a powerful weapon on the battlefield because to its improved armor and fire control systems.
Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems created the Trophy Active Protection System (APS), a cutting-edge defense device intended to increase armored vehicles’ capacity to withstand anti-tank assaults. The possible integration of this technology with many military weapons, such as India’s T-90S Bhishma tanks, has garnered a lot of attention lately.
Trophy has been used effectively in a number of wars, most notably the 2014 fighting in Gaza, where it successfully intercepted many anti-tank missiles that were headed toward Israeli tanks. Numerous operational scenarios have proven its efficacy, which has led to its deployment across a range of armored systems.
Rafael and Larsen & Toubro of India inked a memorandum of understanding to promote Trophy APS for the Indian Ministry of Defence at the recent Aero India 2025 event. In light of the escalating military tensions in the area, this partnership seeks to improve the capabilities of India’s armored forces, specifically the T-90S and Arjun tanks. Trophy integration might greatly improve India’s defense capabilities against highly developed military systems from Pakistan and China, two of its neighbors.
India’s strategic focus on updating its armored capabilities to adequately handle evolving threats is shown in this move to integrate cutting-edge APS like Trophy.
