NIZHNY TAGIL. April 16 (Interfax-AVN) - The local Uralvagonzavod plant is about to complete production of a modernized T-72 tank sample that will be demonstrated to Indian officials in the framework of an upcoming competition for the Indian tank modernization contract, Director and Chief Constructor of the Ural Transport Machine-Building Design Bureau Vladimir Domnin said on Tuesday.
The modernized tank will be demonstrated to India at the Russian Expo Arms 2002 international arms show that will take place in Nizhny Tagil from July 9 to 13, Domnin told Interfax- Military News Agency.
Prototypes of the modernized T-72 have passed all necessary tests successfully, the director went on.
"We are making the sample that we have to demonstrate to the Indian party at the Nizhny Tagil show; after that we will brief the Indian colleagues on the tank's capabilities in detail," he said.
India is expected to announce a competition for its tank contract in mid-2002.
Russia's main competitors are Poland, Israel and Ukraine, Domnin said. "I think that we have the highest chances, as India easier for Indians to operate similar tanks," he stressed.
Domnin said Russia wanted the modernized T-72 to be as close to the design of the T-90 as possible.
Russia will only have to supply equipment and components for modernization of the first T-72 batch, as India will be able to modernize these tanks of its own after it masters production of the T-90, as the two tanks have a high unification level.
"Our chances to win the Indian contract are very high from the technical point of view. As to political and economic responsible for this sphere," Domnin stressed.
Indian sources have said that India's Armed Forces have almost 2,000 T-72 tanks, but only about 30 percent of them are operational.
Specialists say that the comprehensive T-72 modernization program is the optimal and most efficient. For the first time it covers all spheres including firepower, protection, maneuverability and controllability. In general, combat efficiency of a modernized tank will increase by about 70 percent without any massive investments.