Pakistan and Russia Reportedly in Talks to Upgrade Pakistan’s T-80UDs
Pakistan is reportedly planning to sign a contract with Russia that would see Russia upgrade the Pakistan Army’s T-80UD main battle tanks (MBT).[1]
Speaking to Russian News Agency RIA Novosti on the sidelines of the 2018 International Military-Technical Forum (Army 2018), a Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) official, Brigadier Nauman Anwar, stated:
“We have purchased T-80 tanks from Ukraine that would like to modernize to the modern state … in a few months negotiations will end and we will be able to exchange specialists, who will come to Pakistan and help us modernize armored vehicles.”[2]
The Pakistan Army operates 320 T-80UD MBTs, which it had ordered from Ukraine in 1996 for $650 million US. However in 2016-2017, it had appeared that Ukraine would upgrade Pakistan’s T-80UDs, especially as Pakistan had signed a contract with Ukraine in March 2017 to supply 88 tank sights and undertake a pilot program for upgrading five of the T-80UDs.[3] In November 2016, Pakistan had also signed a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) worth $600 million US which had planned for upgrades (and 200 new engines).[4]
However, with HIT speaking to Russia it would appear that the pilot did not proceed as hoped. It is unclear how (e.g. in terms of subsystems or remanufacturing) Russia will upgrade the T-80UDs. In fact, Brig. Anwar told RIA Novosti that neither the cost or number of tanks (slotted for modernization) have been defined, outlining that the matter is still tentative. HIT’s Brig. Anwar expects negotiations to conclude in “months.”
The news also follows the inaugural session of the Russia-Pakistan Joint Military Consultative Committee (JMCC), which concluded in August 2018 and is considered the “highest forum of defence collaboration” between Russia and Pakistan.[5] If inked, the T-80UD upgrade project would amount to the second marquee defence program between Pakistan and Russia and, of particular note, the first that largely aims to boost Pakistan’s conventional capabilities (as opposed to counterinsurgency or counterterrorism).
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