An Invar missile on display during an exhibition. (File photo)
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,095.70 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited for the procurement of Invar anti-tank guided missiles, marking a significant upgrade to the Indian Army’s T-90 main battle tank fleet deployed along the country’s borders with Pakistan and China.
The deal, executed under the “Buy (Indian)” category, represents one of the larger domestic defence contracts this year and aligns with the government’s push to reduce import dependency for critical weapons systems. The Invar missiles will substantially enhance the strike range and precision of the T-90 tanks, which form the backbone of India’s armoured formations.
What is Invar?
The Invar is a laser-guided missile system that allows T-90 crews to engage heavily armoured targets at ranges up to 5 kilometres – roughly double the effective reach of the tank’s standard 125mm main gun. The missile uses semi-automatic laser beam-riding guidance, making it resistant to electronic jamming, and can destroy both stationary and moving targets traveling at speeds up to 70 kilometres per hour.
Weighing 17.2 kilograms with a length of 695 millimetres, the Invar features a tandem warhead specifically designed to defeat explosive reactive armour, a defensive system commonly fitted to modern battle tanks. The missile is fired through the tank’s main gun barrel and guided to the target by the gunner using the vehicle’s integrated fire-control optics.
Bharat Dynamics Limited produces the Invar under a technical collaboration agreement with Russia’s Rosoboronexport, adapting the original 9M119 Refleks design for Indian requirements. The missile has been in service with the Indian Army since the mid-2000s, but this procurement will significantly expand available stocks and ensure sustained operational readiness for T-90 units.
Strategic deployment
The T-90 Bhishma forms the primary heavy armour component of the Indian Army’s mechanized forces, with over 1,600 units in service. These tanks are extensively deployed in both the western and northern sectors, including the challenging high-altitude terrain along the line of actual control (LAC) with China, where they played a visible role during the 2020 border tensions.
The extended engagement range provided by the Invar gives tank crews a critical tactical advantage, allowing them to strike enemy armour from positions of relative safety. This capability is particularly valuable in open terrain where direct-fire engagements at shorter ranges would expose the tanks to greater risk.
Military analysts note that modern tank warfare increasingly relies on guided munitions to complement conventional ammunition. The ability to engage targets beyond direct line of sight, or to strike with precision at maximum range, has become essential in contemporary armoured operations.
Indigenous content
The “Buy (Indian)” classification requires products to meet minimum indigenous content thresholds or specific domestic manufacturing criteria. While the Invar is produced under license from Russian technology, Bharat Dynamics Limited has progressively increased the Indian content in the missile through localisation of components and subsystems.
BDL, a defence public sector undertaking headquartered in Hyderabad, has established a track record in manufacturing guided weapons including the Akash surface-to-air missile, the Nag anti-tank missile, and various torpedo systems. The company’s production facilities are expected to handle the full order within the stipulated delivery timeline, generating employment and skill development opportunities in the domestic defence sector.
The contract is expected to support the government’s broader objective of building a self-sustaining defence industrial base capable of meeting the armed forces’ requirements while reducing reliance on imports. India remains among the world’s largest arms importers, though the share of domestic procurement has been rising steadily in recent years.
Operational impact
The induction of additional Invar stocks will ensure that armoured formations maintain adequate missile inventories for both training and operational deployment. Tank-launched guided missiles require specialized handling and storage, and maintaining sufficient stocks is essential for operational readiness.
The defence ministry stated that the procurement underscores the government’s commitment to meeting the operational requirements of the armed forces while developing domestic defence capabilities. The contract follows several other recent agreements for indigenous weapons systems, including artillery ammunition, infantry combat vehicles, and air defence systems.
The T-90 fleet is expected to remain in frontline service for at least another two decades, with ongoing upgrade programmes planned to extend the operational life of the platform. The availability of advanced ammunition, including guided missiles, ensures that these tanks remain credible assets against potential adversaries operating comparable or more modern systems.
