The agreement was finalised in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from the MoD and HVF/AVNL.

The T-72 BLT features an advanced bridge system comprising a launching mechanism, hydraulic systems, auxiliary systems, an electronic control system, and the bridge structure, designed to enhance the Indian Army’s operational capabilities in varied terrains.

The procurement of 47 T-72 Bridge-Laying Tanks (BLTs) is a significant step toward enhancing the operational capacity of India’s mechanised forces. These BLTs are designed to enable the rapid deployment of bridges during both offensive and defensive operations, addressing mobility challenges and ensuring tactical flexibility. Capable of supporting the movement of armoured units across obstacles such as rivers and trenches, the T-72 BLTs play a crucial role in maintaining the operational relevance of the T-72 fleet as part of India’s broader military modernisation initiative.

The T-72 BLT, also known as the BLT T-72, is an armoured engineering vehicle (AEV) developed for deploying prefabricated steel bridges in combat scenarios. It facilitates the crossing of natural and artificial obstacles, ensuring the mobility of tanks and armoured vehicles during operations. The system features a scissors-type bridge that can be deployed in two configurations: a 20-meter span with a Military Load Classification (MLC) of 60, capable of supporting vehicles up to 60 tons, and a 22-meter span with an MLC of 70, accommodating vehicles up to 70 tons.

The Military Load Classification (MLC) is a standardised system adopted by NATO to determine the load-bearing capacity of infrastructure such as bridges, roads and routes, as well as the load impact of military vehicles. The system uses whole numbers, with higher values indicating the capacity to support heavier loads.

Military vehicles are assigned MLC numbers based on factors such as weight, type (wheeled or tracked), and their impact on infrastructure. Similarly, infrastructure elements are classified according to their structural characteristics and capacity to handle specific traffic conditions. This system ensures compatibility between military vehicles and the infrastructure they traverse, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of forces during operations.

The bridge system of the BLT T-72 includes a launching mechanism, hydraulic systems, auxiliary systems, an electronic control system, and the bridge structure itself. In transit, the bridge remains folded atop the tank and can be deployed within three to five minutes using either manual or automatic controls. This capability allows the vehicle to quickly deploy and recover the bridge, enabling tank columns to overcome obstacles and maintain uninterrupted mobility during operations.

The T-72 Bridge-Laying Tanks (BLTs) are built on the T-72M1 tank chassis and are powered by a 780-horsepower engine. Weighing 49 tons, these vehicles measure 11.36 meters in length, 4.0 meters in width, and 3.8 meters in height. With a maximum road speed of 60 kilometers per hour, the BLTs can traverse gradients of up to 25 degrees, cross trenches up to 2.4 meters wide, and ford shallow waters up to 1.8 meters deep. For defense and operational flexibility, the vehicles are equipped with a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun and provisions for attaching a KMT-6 mine plow for landmine clearance.

India’s association with the T-72M1 dates back to 1978, when the country procured 500 tanks from the Soviet Union, including the T-72, T-72M, and T-72M1 variants. To strengthen its self-reliance in defence production, licensed manufacturing of the T-72M1, designated as the Ajeya, was undertaken at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Tamil Nadu. Over a 15-year production period, more than 1,100 units were domestically produced before production concluded in 1998.

In the 1990s, the Indian Army initiated the Combat Improved Ajeya program, also known as Project Rhino, to upgrade approximately 1,500 T-72M1 tanks. This program introduced significant enhancements, including upgraded engines, advanced fire control systems, Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), fire detection and suppression systems, and modern communication and navigation systems. By 2023, the Indian Army operated a fleet of 2,418 T-72M1 tanks, with plans to replace them under the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) program.

The procurement of T-72 Bridge-Laying Tanks (BLTs) falls under the "Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured)" (IDDM) category, introduced in the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016. This category prioritises defense products that are indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured, requiring a minimum of 50% indigenous content. The policy aligns with the "Make in India" initiative, launched in 2014 to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports, including in the defense sector.

Additionally, the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) campaign, launched in 2020, reinforces these efforts by promoting indigenous production capabilities. In the defense sector, this campaign aims to establish a robust domestic defense industry, minimise dependence on foreign suppliers, stimulate economic growth through local manufacturing, and foster technological innovation within India.