Pakistani Tanks have better quality compared to India's
NEWTOWN, Conn.---A comparative analysis of India and Pakistan tank forces finds that India's superiority in numbers is questionable.
India's 4,880 tanks outnumber Pakistan's 2,808 by nearly 2-to-1, yet India's inventory includes several obsolescent models, most importantly the Vijayanta (the Vickers Mark 1) and the T-55.
"Nearly all of these tanks are in bad disrepair and in need of major overhaul," said Forecast International's Weapon Systems Analyst Greg Fetter. "Most of India's T-55s have never been overhauled or modified and more than 90 percent of India's T-54/T-55 inventory is considered non-operational."
The condition of the T-72, the mainstay of India's armored force, is not much better, according to Fetter. "These tanks need a major overhaul and at least 70 percent of the inventory is not considered fully battleworthy," he said.
Fetter said India's Avadi tank production and retrofit facility has been riddled with bureaucratic inefficiency, which has greatly hindered its effectiveness. Contributing to the sad state of affairs has been the disastrous program to develop an indigenous tank, the Arjun.
"This debacle cost India over $1.23 billion and explains why the necessary maintenance, overhauls and upgrades for the T-72 and other Indian tanks have not been funded," Fetter said.
The single bright spot in India's tank program is the acquisition of the Russian T-90, but the first of these has only just arrived in knock-down state. Even after assembly, crews for the new tanks will need extensive training.
"The new T-90 tank cannot be considered a viable component in India's armored force structure until mid-year and even then in small numbers," Fetter said.
Pakistan's tank inventory, while significantly smaller than India's, has been much better maintained and upgraded over the years. The Taxila facility, built with Chinese aid, can undertake any level of modernization and retrofit of existing tanks as well as the assembly and manufacture of new production tanks and components.
"In terms of numbers, Pakistan's Type 59 (licensed T-54) represents the country's largest single tank type," Fetter said. "The nation has implemented and maintained a major and comprehensive modernization and retrofit effort for these tanks."
This effort, plus similar ones for Type 69-IIMP, has made these tanks fully battleworthy. The Type 85-IIAP, one of two tanks being manufactured, is a modern design that is well maintained and ready for combat.
Both Pakistan and India have worked at developing an indigenous tank but Pakistan has been more successful with its program.
The star of Pakistan's tank inventory is the T-80UD and the reason why India ordered the T-90 from the Russia. The Pakistani T-80UD tanks are fully operational and can deal with any Indian tank including the new T-90.