Jabalpur, Aug 27: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said tanks continue to play a crucial role in ground warfare, describing them as an “iron wall” along India’s borders that boosts the morale of soldiers deployed in forward areas.
Singh made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for a Rs 472-crore facility at the 57-year-old Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) for the overhaul of T-72 and T-90 battle tanks.
“Our Army is one of the most powerful forces in the world. T-72 and T-90 tanks are extremely important for ground warfare. They stand like an iron wall on our borders,” Singh said.
He said tanks require regular maintenance and periodic overhauling to ensure their operational readiness.
The upcoming facility will have the capacity to overhaul 80 T-72 and T-90 tanks annually. The Indian Army requires around 230 T-series tanks to be overhauled every year, while the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi currently handles around 150 tanks annually.
Singh said the new facility would help bridge the shortfall and strengthen the Army’s operational preparedness.
Highlighting the changing nature of modern warfare, the Defence Minister said drones, missiles, artillery and electronic warfare systems are playing an increasingly important role. However, he maintained that the emergence of new technologies has not diminished the relevance of tanks.
“The character of warfare has changed, but that does not mean tanks have lost their relevance. Drones and missiles are important, but tanks continue to have a role,” Singh said.
He stressed the need for an integrated combat capability, saying soldiers should be equipped with tanks and drones capable of operating in coordination with each other.
Singh said the strength of tanks lies in their mobility and firepower and emphasised that the focus should be on modernising them rather than phasing them out.
“This is not a battle of one weapon against another; it is a battle involving the entire combat system,” he said.
The Vehicle Factory Jabalpur operates under Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) and is a premier military vehicle manufacturing unit.
Established in 1969, the factory initially produced Shaktiman 3-tonne vehicles in collaboration with Germany’s MAN. It also manufactured Nissan 1-tonne and Jonga vehicles in collaboration with Japan’s Nissan Motors Co.
The factory complex is spread over 330 acres, while its adjoining estate covers another 600 acres.
