Finally Common Sense Prevails as T-72 Tank Ajeya MRO Starts at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Finally common sense prevails as tank MRO starts at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. I had been rooting for this moment since long have written an opinion piece in www.irdrw.org under ‘My Take’ section. Below is the reproduction of the article once again, do read the article that was published on April 20, 2020. It seems finally someone at Ministry of Defense Office in North Block, New Delhi read my opinion piece and implemented it. This will immensely help the Indian Army as now tanks won’t be required to be sent all the way down south to Avadi, Tamil Nadu, a seriously long distance that kills lot of time. Tanks serviced at VFJ will mean the T-72 Ajeya tanks will be serviced and will be sent back to their armoured formations in the northern, eastern and western parts of India within a short period of time.

As such Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ), which is known for its long-standing legacy in manufacturing military vehicles, has now embarked on a new mission of overhauling the iconic T-72 tank, a cornerstone of India’s armoured forces. The first T-72 tank for this purpose of overhaul has been delivered to VFJ by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), Chennai.  India had signed an agreement of around 248 million dollars (Rs 2,100 crores) with Russia for the upgradation of the T 72s. This was indeed a money steal proposition as if India had bought new tanks be it T-72 or T-90 from Russia; India would have had to spend Rs 6,000 crores," said Sanjeev Bhola, Vehicle Factory Chief General Manager

This overhauling effort is part of a larger goal of strengthening India’s defense self-reliance, involving technology transfer and licensed production through state-owned defense units. Taking a significant leap in its defense production capabilities, VFJ has taken on the responsibility of overhauling these powerful battle tanks. Previously, VFJ successfully executed the project of upgunning of the Sarang gun. Now the start of project of overhauling of T-72 tanks marks a new chapter for the factory. Over the years, the machinery of the tanks has become obsolete. Vehicle Factory Chief General  Manager As part of the upgradation, a 1,000-horsepower engine will be installed in the T 72s.

To prepare for this crucial project, a specialized team of skilled VFJ personnel was trained at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Chennai. After receiving comprehensive training, this team will now lead the overhauling operations at VFJ, supported by other factory personnel. The upgradation of the T 72s was earlier done in Chennai, but the vehicle factory at Jabalpur has also taken up the work by developing technical resources. The first tank to be upgraded has already reached Jabalpur. Apart from the engine, the operating system of the tank will be computerized. Besides, efforts will be made to increase its fire power. The tanks will also be serviced and its seats made more comfortable for the troopers. Below is the article published T-72 Ajeya tanks. Apart from the engine, the operating system of the tank will be computerized. Besides, efforts will be made to increase its fire power. The tanks will also be serviced and its seats made more comfortable for the troopers. My opinion piece / My Take (published on 20/04/2020)

Common Sense Says Tank MRO and Not Trucks at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

When I say Tank MRO and not trucks at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, I say this bcoz that is what sound common sense application should be as it saves the governments hundreds of crores of tax payers money as well as boost defense preparedness. If you ask how and why? Common sense says it’s a bad idea to assemble various models of Ashok Leyland Stallion trucks at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur. Here are the below points:- 

      1. What does Vehicle Factory Jabalpur do?

Apart from other types of vehicles, the plant  mainly assembles Ashok Leyland Stallion trucks for the armed forces that are manufactured in Ashok Leyland’s own plant, then dis-assembled into CKD/SKD kits; packaged and transported to Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh where again they are unpacked and re-assembled once again. 

      2. So what is the problem?

Problem is when Ashok Leyland itself manufactures Stallion trucks, what is the point to manufacture, dis-assemble into CKD/SKD kits, package, and transport Stallion trucks to Vehicle Factory Jabalpur. The Stallion trucks can be directly sourced from Ashok Leyland, it will save crores of taxpayers money spent to dis-assembled into kits; packaging, transporting, unpacking and re-assembling; in terms of extra transportation cost, fuel cost, man hours cost.

3. So what is the benefit?

Benefit is that once assembling of Stallion trucks are stopped at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh it will open up a massive space that can be put to better use like setting up a tank MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) facility.

Why Tank MRO at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur

Everyone knows that tanks be it T 72, Arjun, T 90, Vijayant for the Indian Army are manufactured at the CVRDE and Heavy Vehicles Factory Avadi, Tamil Nadu. Indian Army deploys tanks all along Pakistan border in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu Kashmir and China-Tibet border in Ladakh, Sikkim, and Aruachal Pradesh. So whats the problem? Problems are listed below:-

      1. What if a tank breaks down in Ladakh or Sikkim?

As it is known distance between Ladakh or Sikkim and Avadi, Tamil Nadu is over 2000 km at the very least. So if a tank breaks down and cant be repaired at the spot, then it’s a nightmare situation. The tank has to hualed up trawlers and sent back by train all the way to Avadi, Tamil Nadu to get it back into running condition which may take months and not to forget crores of taxpayers money spent on it.

      2. So what is the problem?

Problem is when a tank breaks down and cant be repaired at the spot and is sent over 2000 km to Avadi, Tamil Nadu to be repaired, it affects defense preparedness due to its longer turnaround time for a tank, not to mention availability of trains on time, not just that but also incurred are extra transportation cost, fuel cost, man hours cost.

      3. So what is the benefit?

While manufacturing of tanks can and should continue at Avadi, Tamil Nadu, Tank MRO facility should be set up at the place where Ashok Leyland Stallion trucks are currently assembled at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The benefits are numerous, main among them are:-

a.       If tank MRO is done at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh it saves a lot of tax payers money in terms of transportation cost, fuel cost, man hours cost.

b.       As tanks will have to cover less than half of the distance when going to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh as against what they have to cover now to go to Avadi, Tamil Nadu it will result in faster turnaround time for tanks.

c.       Faster turnaround time for tanks means quicker redeployment in frontline areas, as travel time is cut by half.

d.       Quicker redeployment of tanks in frontline areas boosts defense preparedness.

T-72 Tank Ajeya

Originally designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union, the T-72 tank Ajeya was inducted into the Indian Army in the 1970s. Over time, production and upgrades were localised at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi. Now, the T-72 remains a key component of the Indian Army’s tank fleet and continues to serve as a vital part of India’s defence arsenal. As part of a modernisation initiative, these tanks are being upgraded with more powerful 1000 HP engines to enhance mobility and combat capabilities. There are 20,000 such tanks across the globe. The tanks can seat three soldiers and are powered by a 780-horsepower engine. It can run at a speed of 60 kmph without any loadings. The gun fitted on the tank can be rotated 360 ​​degrees and can hit in any direction. India had bought these tanks from Russia between 1970 and 1980.

History of Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh is a military motor vehicle factory, and part of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, which was previously part of Ordnance Factory Board, controlled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Originally set up as Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur in 1959 and inauguratred by then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to produce under license Shaktiman trucks (MAN 415 L1 AR), Jonga (Jabalpur Ordnance and Guncarriage Assembly) Light Utility Vehicles and Vahan 1 ton (Nissan 4W73 Carrier), the defense unit took the present form in 1969.

Today VFJ manufactures and assembles everything from general staff vehicles, logistics vehicles, light armoured vehicles like bullet-proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles, and specialist role vehicles such as rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, water bowsers, fuel tankers, field ambulances, tippers, battery command posts, generator sets, light recovery vehicles, field artillery tractors, kitchen containers etc. It also has some variants for civilian applications. Today tank MRO for T-72 Ajeya tanks has also been added to its product line.