Indian T-90 Tanks Struggle in Summer Desert Heat

[HAIDER]

NEW DELHI - The Indian Army has floated a request for information to integrate an air-conditioning system along with additional power sources in its fleet of Russian-made T-90 tanks, which have had difficulties when operating in desert conditions of temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius

An Indian Army official said that some of the tanks' computerized systems failed in summer desert heat.
ndia purchased the T-90 tank from Russia in 2001 as the homegrown Arjun tank did not meet Army expectations while Pakistan had acquired T-80 tanks from Ukraine.

Under the $795 million deal, 310 T-90 tanks were procured from Russia. In 2007, the Indian Army gave a fresh order to buy an additional 330 T-90s and there are plans to license produce another 1,000 by 2020 at Indian facilities.
Indian T-90 Tanks Struggle in Summer Desert Heat - Defense News

 

[shehbazi2001]

NEW DELHI - The Indian Army has floated a request for information to integrate an air-conditioning system along with additional power sources in its fleet of Russian-made T-90 tanks, which have had difficulties when operating in desert conditions of temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius

An Indian Army official said that some of the tanks' computerized systems failed in summer desert heat.
ndia purchased the T-90 tank from Russia in 2001 as the homegrown Arjun tank did not meet Army expectations while Pakistan had acquired T-80 tanks from Ukraine.

Under the $795 million deal, 310 T-90 tanks were procured from Russia. In 2007, the Indian Army gave a fresh order to buy an additional 330 T-90s and there are plans to license produce another 1,000 by 2020 at Indian facilities.
Indian T-90 Tanks Struggle in Summer Desert Heat - Defense News

T-90 may be using latest microprocessors (like pentiums) that require cooling fans to remain within working temperatures.

Military hardwares used processors without fans (286,386,486) for robustness and operations in hot weathers even when the Pentiums were available. These 286, 386 and 486 processors can work without a cooling fan.

Pentium-1 started after 486. I was amazed at first to know that in some 1990s weapon systems, 286 processors were being used. In fact the advantage is that they dont need cooling.

But still the advancement in computing power demands that modern processors be used and appropriate cooling systems be provided. This is just a small complication that gives enormous increase in computing power.

 

[GHATAK]

T-90s to get new air-conditioners

With the Army's T-90 Main Battle Tanks (MBT) facing heat due to failure of fire control systems at very high temperatures, the government has floated Request for Information (RFI) for integrating air-conditioning system along with additional power source in its entire fleet of the Russian tanks.

"A large fleet of T-90 tanks would require to be fitted with environment control system with Auxillary Power Unit (APU), following Indian Army's decision to upgrade the T-90 equipment," top Army sources said.

The failure of fire control systems and its computerised sensors and sophisticated panels were noticed during T-90 trials in Rajasthan deserts, where systems conked off while operating in temperatures over 45 degree Celsius, sources said.

Indian Army's major armoured forces concentration was in Rajasthan deserts and Punjab's plains, facing western frontiers with Pakistan, where temperatures during summer are usually quite high.

India had contracted to purchase 310 T-90 tanks from Russia in February 2001 in a USD 795 million deal. The first lot of 124 T-90s were picked off the shelf and another 186 imported in a semi knocked down condition for assembling in Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi near Chennai.


In 2006, India also decided to produce nearly 1,000 T-90s till 2020 to make it the backbone of its Army's armoured vehicles strength. Last year, India placed an add-on order for additional 330 T-90 tanks, indicating it would be its MBT for the next decade or so.

Though Defence Ministry (MOD) was keen that the environment control system was integrated within India, it would not be averse to the idea of foreign companies participating in the upgrade programme, but would have to conform to the new off-set clause in its Defence Procurement Policy announced in 2006 aimed at energising Indian defence industry.

Through RFI, India wanted interested companies to state if they were willing to provide the equipment for trials at 'No Cost No Commitment' basis, and the level of technology they would transfer to a firm nominated by MOD for the equipment's integration into the entire fleet of T-90s.

The RFI asked private companies, interested in the upgrade programme and integration of cooling systems, to declare their Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) status or authorisation from OEMs to deal with MOD.

"It is going to be a major task to integrate the environment control system along with APU in the first lot of 310 T-90s, and later in future lots of 1,000 and 330 tanks," sources said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would be roped in for the project that would require some hardcore re-engineering work, as the tank was already jam-packed with equipment and had no more space for an air-conditiong unit.

 

[JK!]

India has experience with Russian hardware so what systems are in place with the T72s for example?