Jabalpur, Aug 27 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday performed the Bhoomi Pujan for a Rs 472-crore project to set up overhaul facilities for T-72 and T-90 tanks at the Vehicle Factory in Jabalpur.
The facility, being established by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), will have the capacity to overhaul 80 tanks annually and is aimed at ensuring timely availability of refurbished tanks to the Indian Army and strengthening its operational readiness.
The Army requires around 230 tanks to be overhauled every year. The Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi currently has the capacity to overhaul 150 tanks annually.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said the project reflected India’s growing technological and industrial capabilities and would contribute to the country’s goal of becoming a major defence manufacturing and export hub.
He said the changing nature of warfare, marked by the growing use of drones, precision-guided weapons, missiles, satellites, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare, has not diminished the relevance of tanks but has changed their role on the battlefield.
“Modern warfare demands combined capabilities rather than dependence on a single platform,” Singh said, emphasising the need for an integrated combat system involving tanks, infantry, artillery, drones, air power, surveillance and precision weapons.
He said existing tanks need to be equipped with superior sensors and modern capabilities to meet battlefield requirements.
The Defence Minister said the new facility would advance the government’s vision of providing the armed forces with modernised tanks along with drones, missiles, artillery, electronic warfare and other advanced capabilities.
Singh noted that the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, has supplied around 4,400 tanks to the Indian Army over the past four decades.
He said the Jabalpur project would further strengthen the city’s position as a major centre for defence technology, maintenance, modernisation and manufacturing.
Singh also highlighted the role of AVNL, which has around 25 years of experience in overhauling T-72 and T-90 variant tanks, and expressed hope that the organisation would set new benchmarks in quality, productivity, innovation and global competitiveness.
The Defence Minister said sustained efforts under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative had transformed India’s defence sector, with defence production rising to around Rs 1.80 lakh crore in 2025-26 from Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, while defence exports touched an all-time high of approximately Rs 39,000 crore.
He said nations with advanced technologies, resilient supply chains, robust industrial capacity and dynamic innovation capabilities would be better equipped to withstand prolonged conflicts.
“India must not depend on foreign supply chains for critical defence 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,” Singh said.
The project is also expected to provide opportunities to micro, small and medium enterprises by creating demand for mechanical, electrical, electronic and hydraulic components, assemblies and subsystems required for tank overhauling.
Singh said the initiative would help create a robust local supply chain and generate employment opportunities in Jabalpur and surrounding areas.
He also praised the Madhya Pradesh government’s efforts to promote industry, investment and defence manufacturing, saying the state was laying the foundation to emerge as a major defence and aerospace manufacturing hub.
Yadav said the investment in Jabalpur would strengthen the defence ecosystem and encourage greater participation of MSMEs in Madhya Pradesh.
Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, AVNL Chairman and Managing Director Satyabrata Mukherjee and senior officials of the Defence Production Department, AVNL and the armed forces were present at the event.(NVI)
