BHOPAL: Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, performed the Bhoomi Pujan for T-Series Tanks Overhaul Project at Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur -- a unit of Mini Ratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) on Thursday.
The project involves the creation of overhauling facilities for T-72 and T-90 Tanks with an estimated cost of Rs 472 crore, another milestone in the nation’s journey towards self-reliance. The facilities at Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur have been envisaged to overhaul 80 tanks annually to ensure timely availability of overhauled tanks to the Indian Army, further boosting its operational readiness.
Importantly, the Army requires 230 tanks to be overhauled each year, and the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, currently has the capacity to overhaul 150 tanks annually.
The overhauling facilities for T-Series tanks will create significant opportunities for MSMEs by generating demand for a wide range of mechanical, electrical, electronic and hydraulic components, assemblies and subsystems. The sourcing of these items will help establish a robust and resilient supply chain, while creating avenues for local MSMEs in manufacturing and ancillary services associated with tank overhauling. This, in turn, will promote greater participation of local industry and contribute to the development of a strong and self-sustaining industrial ecosystem.
Addressing the programme, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the project would prove to be a boon for soldiers while generating employment opportunities for people in Jabalpur and surrounding areas, including farmers, workers, youth and small entrepreneurs.
He described the project as a testament to India’s growing technological prowess and industrial capabilities, expressing confidence that it would contribute to India’s goal of emerging as one of the world’s leading defence manufacturing and export hubs in the coming years. He emphasised that while the nature of warfare is changing with the advent of drones, precision-guided weapons, missiles, satellites, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare, the relevance of tanks has not diminished but evolved.
Singh said, "Modern warfare demands combined capabilities rather than dependence on a single platform. Tanks, infantry, artillery, drones, air power, surveillance, and precision weapons together form an integrated combat system, a concept demonstrated by the Indian Army through its ‘Integrated Battle Group’. There is a need to equip our tanks with superior sensors and capabilities aligned with modern battlefield requirements.
"Our focus is to provide the soldiers with drones, missiles, artillery, electronic warfare capabilities, energy weapons and modernised tanks, and ensuring seamless coordination among them. This overhaul facility will advance this vision."
Singh pointed out that the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, has supplied around 4,400 tanks to the Indian Army over the past four decades, reflecting its significant contribution to the country’s armoured capabilities. The new project will further strengthen Jabalpur’s identity as a major hub for defence technology, maintenance, modernisation and manufacturing, Singh said, while expressing hope that AVNL, with 25 years of experience in overhauling T-72 and T-90 variant tanks, will set new benchmarks for quality, productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness in the years to come.
While highlighting that the government's determined efforts towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat are transforming the country’s defence sector and the world’s perception of India, Singh said that sustained efforts over the past decade have resulted in record increase in defence production to around Rs 1.80 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26 from Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, and all-time high defence exports of approximately Rs 39,000 crore from less than Rs 1,000 crore. He termed these milestones as a reflection of India’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub, a reliable technology partner and a trusted defence partner.
On the evolving nature of warfare, the defence minister asserted that nations with advanced technologies, resilient supply chains, robust industrial capacity, and dynamic innovation capabilities will be better equipped to withstand prolonged conflicts. Against this backdrop, he stated that the government is committed to ensuring that the defence forces are not dependent on foreign supply chains for critical requirements.
“Our aim is to manufacture defence equipment domestically, undertake repair and maintenance within the country, upgrade existing systems with modern technologies, and develop next-generation capabilities indigenously,” he said.
Singh commended the work being carried out by the Madhya Pradesh government in sectors such as industry, investment, and defence manufacturing with proactiveness and commitment. “Global Investors Summit 2025, the transparent and seamless approval system via 'Invest MP 3.0', and industry-friendly policies are establishing the state as an attractive hub for investment. The prospects for defence manufacturing on 3,073 hectares of land in the Gwalior-Chambal region and proposed investments exceeding Rs 16,960 crore reflect the state's vision. This effort is laying a strong foundation to make Madhya Pradesh India's next major Defence & Aerospace Manufacturing Hub,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Madhya Pradesh CM Dr Mohan Yadav appreciated the investment being undertaken in Jabalpur, which will boost defence ecosystem and encourage MSMEs participation in the state.
